Tanzania’s anti-corruption watchdog said it has arrested the Director General of Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), Deusdedit Kakoko, for questioning in connection with graft allegations.

The arrest of the ports authority chief followed his suspension on Sunday by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to pave way for investigations over embezzlement of public funds amounting 3.6 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 1.55 million U.S. dollars).

President Hassan suspended Kakoko shortly after she was presented with the 2019/2020 reports from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) that indicated that 3.6 billion Tanzanian shillings were embezzled by TPA in the 2019/2020 financial year.

“It is true that we are holding the TPA Director General for questioning here at the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) headquarters,” the PCCB communications manager, Doreen Kapwani, said in a phone interview with Xinhua.

On Sunday, President Hassan ordered the CAG, Charles Kichere, to investigate how the 3.6 billion Tanzanian shillings were embezzled by the ports watchdog.

“I will stand firm in ensuring prudent management of public resources. I will also stand firm in the fight against corruption,” she said in her statement televised live from Chamwino State House in the capital Dodoma. Enditem.