News / National
ZRP, AG taken to court over Kereke rape case
23 Mar 2013 at 06:44hrs | Views
HARARE - A guardian to an 11-year-old girl allegedly raped by former advisor to Reserve Bank governor Munyaradzi Kereke has filed a High Court application seeking to compel the police and Attorney General's office to bring the businessman to book.
Francis Maramwidze, who filed the application, cited commissioner-general of police Augustine Chihuri and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana as respondents.
Maramwidze told the court that since he filed a report of the rape case in October 2009, nothing has been done to bring Kereke to court.
He said initially he reported the matter at Highlands Police Station, before taking the rape victim to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
"Following this report, the police were expected to take the case a step further by effecting an arrest of the accused. That was not done. He was not even called to report to the police station," said Maramwidze in a case filed under number H/C 10203/12.
The High Court is yet to allocate a judge to handle the matter.
In the application, Maramwidze said the matter was referred to Avondale Police Station before being transferred to Borrowdale Police Station.
Maramwidze said after the police report was filed, Kerek e started visiting his place of residence, "specifically to persuade" him to drop the charges before threatening to sue him over the case.
He told the court that he made a report to the police pertaining to the threats.
"They (police) even told me to be very careful with the children as well as my life as he (Kereke) was very well connected to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Central Investigation Department officers who were protecting him and could harm me," said Maramwidze.
"I have lost faith in the criminal justice delivery system which protects the influential," Maramwidze further said.
According to his affidavit, Maramwidze said he was called by a senior police officer who "categorically admitted that the ZRP had failed in its duty to bring this case before the courts of law."
"What bothers me, is what is so special with accused that his case can be declined prosecution without any arrest being effected or without any statement from him being recorded," Maramwidze queried.
His lawyers from Warara and Associates said: "Thus the Applicant will persist with his prayer for the first and second respondents to be ordered to prosecute Munyaradzi Kereke for sexually molesting applicant's minor child."
Francis Maramwidze, who filed the application, cited commissioner-general of police Augustine Chihuri and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana as respondents.
Maramwidze told the court that since he filed a report of the rape case in October 2009, nothing has been done to bring Kereke to court.
He said initially he reported the matter at Highlands Police Station, before taking the rape victim to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
"Following this report, the police were expected to take the case a step further by effecting an arrest of the accused. That was not done. He was not even called to report to the police station," said Maramwidze in a case filed under number H/C 10203/12.
The High Court is yet to allocate a judge to handle the matter.
In the application, Maramwidze said the matter was referred to Avondale Police Station before being transferred to Borrowdale Police Station.
He told the court that he made a report to the police pertaining to the threats.
"They (police) even told me to be very careful with the children as well as my life as he (Kereke) was very well connected to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Central Investigation Department officers who were protecting him and could harm me," said Maramwidze.
"I have lost faith in the criminal justice delivery system which protects the influential," Maramwidze further said.
According to his affidavit, Maramwidze said he was called by a senior police officer who "categorically admitted that the ZRP had failed in its duty to bring this case before the courts of law."
"What bothers me, is what is so special with accused that his case can be declined prosecution without any arrest being effected or without any statement from him being recorded," Maramwidze queried.
His lawyers from Warara and Associates said: "Thus the Applicant will persist with his prayer for the first and second respondents to be ordered to prosecute Munyaradzi Kereke for sexually molesting applicant's minor child."
Source - Daily News
