The most horrible experience of my life 

On Monday 23rd April this year, I went swimming at 5:30a.m. in my car, a Land Rover Discovery T 455 AFR.

As usual my watchman Saidi stuck my swimming shoes on the frame of the back-view mirror of the car. I forgot to pick them up and put them  in the car. On the way, the shoes fell off and I realized that the shoes had fallen off. The shoes were nearly two years old and hence did not stop the car to pick them up. I did not want them.

I swam from 6:00 a.m. to 6:50 a.m. and got ready to go back home. I had a friend Sunil Karia in my car to drop him on Morogoro Road at his house. For some unusual reason I thought about the shoes and took the route to pick them up. Shoes were not there. So I took the route via Agakhan Hospital, Mwinyi Road, India Street and Kaluta Street to drop Sunil on Morogoro Road.

Now when I reached the crossing of Kaluta Street and Bridge Street. I met an accident with the car Toyota Land Cruiser. I was driving at 15km/hour on Kaluta Street while Mr. Mushi came on Bridge Street at about 40km/hr being on the Main Road. My car was badly damaged on the side and the Passenger Door completely written off.

The Police came and carried out the measurement and Plan. My car was taken to the Traffic Police Headquarters. I went home at 9:30 a.m.

I went back to the Police H/q at 11:30 a.m. and made the Statement. Again I went to the Police Headquarter at 3:30 p.m. and took my car Home. I surrendered my Original License, Insurance Cover Note, Receipt of Insurance Payment and my Identity Card.

All my Documents were in order. I wanted Police Report to submit to the Insurance Agency for reimbursement of repair expenses. I was told to come on Tuesday, 24 th April. On Tuesday, 24th April, the Police told me that the typist had not come, so informed me to come on Wednesday, 25th April.   On Wednesday 25th April, I sent my Engineer to collect the Report. He was told to bring the Driver, I, to the Police Headquarter. I went with Akbar to the Police Headquarter. There I was told to go to Kinondoni Traffic Court without informing me the line of action. I reached there at 10:30 a.m. and waited until 2:00 p.m. The Prosecutor asked me to plead guilty to

Ï”Reckless Driving” I denied, the charge of “reckless driving”. He asked me to provide Two (2) Sureties. I had not taken any surety except Akbar. He at once ordered the Police to arrest me and put me in a Cell 9m x 4.5m containing about 70 criminals. In the meantime I telephoned Mr. Babu Ladwa & Ashutosh Jog to come to Kinondoni Traffic Court and give surety.

I handed over my Watch, Mobile Phone, Pen and money to Akbar. I had only my clothes and shoes and I was pushed into the Cell. As soon as I was pushed in by the Police and grilled doors shut, about 25 criminals jumped on me and in five minutes, they stripped me naked and took everything except my brief underwear.

After five minutes, I found myself naked lying on dirty floor. Slowly I got up and gathered courage to talk to the self styled leader of the Criminals. He heard my plead and returned my trouser and Shirt after 15 minutes. They did not return my shoes, I promised to pay Shs. 5,000/= for shoes but no way. This was the most horrible experience of my life, shocking and frightful. Luckily I was not physically hurt at all, not even bruise or breakage of limbs.

At 4:00 p.m., my sureties arrived but I was not released. At 4:30 p.m., I was taken to Keko Prison in a Land Rover while 70 criminals were taken in a closed body truck; hardly a place to stand,  completely inhuman. I was taken by a Land Rover, not because I was NOT a Criminal but my Surety had paid “Bakshishï” money to the Police.    

I arrived at the Keko Prison at about 5:30 p.m. I came out of the Land Rover and forced to stay with Criminals. I was asked to sit on the ground until called to enter the Prison Building. In the open Yard of the Prison, I was stripped naked to check my clothes and body for any harmful objects. It was indeed very humiliating act to a Traffic Offender.                    

Finally I was taken in a Cell on the First Floor of the building. The Remandee Cell was 9m x 4m with  8 beds. The beds had clean bed sheet and a cotton blanket. There was a Mosquito net on each bed and fans to cool the room. Attached to the Cell was a Bathroom and a shower. The washing water was very clean and the make up of the cell was like a three star hotel. The Floor was clean and plenty of bottled drinking water.

I was in bed No.5. In Bed No.1 was an armed robber serving 10 years of Jail. In Bed No.2 was a young man who had killed his wife. He had knife cut on his belly by his wife. He was there for the last 3 years. In Bed No.3 was a Car Thief with bullet wound on his right arm. He was there for 9 months. In Bed No.4 was a strong young man from Singida. He had killed his brother for money. He was there for last the six months. I was in Bed No.5 , a Traffic offender. In Bed No.6, was an Iranian, a drug addict and immigration defaulter. He was next to my bed and smelling terrible. In Bed No.7 was an educated 65 years old Tanzanian man. He had retired from Ministry of Agriculture and looking after his Farm in Tageta. He had shot a thief in his leg. He took the

thief in his car to Police station and Muhimbili Hospital. But he was put in remand on 23 rd January to complete the investigation. He has developed HP and Diabetes. He does not know when he will come out. In Bed No.8 was a Petty thief but very ill and needed hospitality. No body cared.               

On day 25th April, I thought about my Destiny and the God�s wish of my situation in the Jail. I walked in the Cell (9m) up & down for nearly two hours (7:00 pm to 9:00pm) and went to sleep.   I slept soundly. The lights are kept on for the whole night and the Jailors came inspecting the remandees. On Thursday 26th April, being a

Holiday, I stayed in jail talking to all Cell mates. They all gave me their stories. Food was served but my wife Lily brought my Food from home. She visited me at 12 noon and both of us wept a little. We consoled each other and prayed for patience, everything would be sorted out and settled in our favour. I ate only lunch and a cup of tea in the evening. I started thinking of my presence in the cell and found that I had a purpose to be

there among criminals. I started teaching them Pranayam and Gayatri Mantra. They all sat on the Floor and folded their legs in Lotus formation. They had problem and could not sit longer. I allowed them to sit in any form but they did Four Yogas of Pranayam. They could not recite Gayatri Mantra. But they repeated “Ohm” many times. The Pranayam was from 30 minutes to one hour. Even the Jailors appreciated. I felt good and forgot that I was in Jail.

On Friday 27 April, I was taken to court for release. My sureties had worked hard. But the Magistrate did not come and so I was sent back to Keko Prison. Saturday & Sunday were Holidays and hence spent the days & nights in the Prison Cell. I carried out Pranayam Yoga and working with the Inmates. I also visited the seven dirty dormitories where 1500 criminals were kept. The most horrifying place to spend even a night. Three young criminal could rape you and physically arrest you for nothing. Ask you to pay money to their outside friends through your relatives.

Lucky, I was not among them.

On Monday 30th April, I was taken to Court to be definitely released. But No Way. The Prosecutor wrote in his discharge order that I should be released on Wednesday 2 nd May. Tuesday 1st May was a Holiday. I slept two more nights Monday & Tuesday, in jail. I was getting stronger in my spirit that the Inmates needed me more than I needed my family, friends & well wishers. I was worried about my wife Lily, and prayed for her peace of mind and courage. I knew what I was doing but She did not know my physical as well as mental conditions.   Finally on Wednesday, 2nd May at 11:00 a.m., I was released and taken home by my friend Ashutosh Jog. Dhiru & Chandu Ladwa, Ashutosh, Jaysukh Patel, Jitu Rasik & Akbar had Tea with me at my House and I felt that I had a new life,  a New man with more vigour & action.

MORAL:

1. A cheap pair of shoes can bring lot of problems.

2. Personal Standing as a Professional Person, rich in Wealth and Property and Social Leadership in  societies do not help in one’s Destiny.  

3. In a country where there is No Law & Order but Corruption is the Rule of the Day, negotiate the Corruption and get out of the Problem.

Jayant