The Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone stated to have arrested and is questioning Peter Madeleka an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania over allegations of disobeying orders of the High Court, Corruption and Economic Crimes Division, popularly known as the Economic Crimes Court. According to the police, the incident occurred on 14 August 2026, at 3:30 p.m., in Mikocheni B, Kinondoni. Before the police issued an official statement, reports of Madeleka’s arrest had begun circulating on social media. The reports alleged that people identifying themselves as police officers arrested him while he was at the Economic Crimes Court in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam. It is alleged that those who arrested him did not explain the reason for his arrest or the police station to which he was being taken. The reports also alleged that his vehicle, money and some documents he had with him were taken. The incident occurred one day after Madeleka challenged a position associated with a High Court order concerning lawyers speaking to the media within court premises after cases have been adjourned.
Madeleka insisted that it is neither an ethical nor a criminal offence for anyone, including a lawyer, to speak to the media within court premises after a case has been adjourned. He further said that the public has a right to know what is happening in court, particularly in major criminal cases that the Republic itself has decided to prosecute. He made reference to Section 192(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, which concerns the conduct of criminal proceedings in an open court. Madeleka also questioned why major cases should be kept from the public, saying that if the Judiciary believes lawyers speaking to journalists violates professional ethics, the matter should be referred to the Lawyers’ Ethics Committee. Meanwhile, the Chief Legal Officer of the CHADEMA, Dr Rugemeleza Nshala, has called on the President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), lawyer Boniface Mwabukusi, to take action over the restriction preventing lawyers from giving case summaries to journalists within court premises. Dr Nshala said lawyers should first raise the matter with the Judiciary and, if no solution is reached, they could take legal action. The incident has sparked public debate over arrest procedures, the rights of suspects and whether a person can claim compensation if unlawfully arrested or mistreated.
Madeleka, who has since been released by the police on bail on 18 August 2026, said the case against him over allegations of contempt of court is an issue that the public should closely follow. He questioned whether, under the law, allegations of contempt of court should be investigated by the police. In his view, the court itself should take action against a person accused of contempt. Peter Madeleka previously served as a police officer before leaving the force to become a lawyer. He was also a member of ACT Wazalendo before resigning from the party a few days ago.