News / National
High Court dismisses Gumbura bail application
27 Jan 2014 at 23:47hrs | Views
The High Court on Monday dismissed a bail application by alleged rapist pastor, Robert Martin Gumbura, in a case in which he is accused of raping another woman.
Justice Esther Muremba threw out the bail application arguing that Gumbura's release would cause public disharmony considering that he is a church leader who fellowships with his alleged victims.
The court held that the State had a strong case against him and that if convicted, he is likely to face a lengthy prison term. Justice Muremba also considered that Gumbura was facing several other cases in which he awaits judgment.
When Gumbura first appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, he was being accused of raping 11 women. When the trial started, one of the women was out of the country while three other cases were separated from the other seven for the purposes of trial.
Gumbura was tried and now awaits judgment for allegedly raping seven women. Trial in respect of the four women whom he allegedly raped with the assistance of his personal assistant, Tendai Ganyani, has already started.
The bail application that is pending at the High Court is in respect of the case of the woman who was in South Africa when the other trials began.
Justice Esther Muremba threw out the bail application arguing that Gumbura's release would cause public disharmony considering that he is a church leader who fellowships with his alleged victims.
The court held that the State had a strong case against him and that if convicted, he is likely to face a lengthy prison term. Justice Muremba also considered that Gumbura was facing several other cases in which he awaits judgment.
When Gumbura first appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, he was being accused of raping 11 women. When the trial started, one of the women was out of the country while three other cases were separated from the other seven for the purposes of trial.
Gumbura was tried and now awaits judgment for allegedly raping seven women. Trial in respect of the four women whom he allegedly raped with the assistance of his personal assistant, Tendai Ganyani, has already started.
The bail application that is pending at the High Court is in respect of the case of the woman who was in South Africa when the other trials began.
Source - Herald
