News / National
Mapositori denied bail
10 Jun 2014 at 16:52hrs | Views
High Court bail application for the 24 members of the Vapostori cult, who are facing charges of public violence, has been postponed to Thursday this week.
Justice Easter Muremba asked the state and the defence counsel to attach a legible record of proceedings of the lower court.
The 24, through their legal counsel, Mr Obey Shava are appealing against the denial of bail, pending trial, saying the magistrate misdirected himself by denying the accused bail.
Mr Shava further proposed that his clients should pay a mere $10 bail for each of the accused persons.
Harare Provincial Magistrate, Mr Douglas Chikwekwe denied the 24 bail, arguing that it is in the interest of justice for the accused persons to be in custody and that their release will jeopardise investigations.
Mr Chikwekwe further ruled that their release was going to cause chaos and a public outcry.
He also directed that the 24 be examined by a government doctor, a process which he said can be undertaken while they are in custody.
The ruling is one of the unique cases where a magistrate denied accused bail despite the state consenting.
The 24 are facing charges of public violence after assaulting police officers, a ZBC cameraman, Relax Mafurutu and members of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ).
Justice Easter Muremba asked the state and the defence counsel to attach a legible record of proceedings of the lower court.
The 24, through their legal counsel, Mr Obey Shava are appealing against the denial of bail, pending trial, saying the magistrate misdirected himself by denying the accused bail.
Mr Shava further proposed that his clients should pay a mere $10 bail for each of the accused persons.
Harare Provincial Magistrate, Mr Douglas Chikwekwe denied the 24 bail, arguing that it is in the interest of justice for the accused persons to be in custody and that their release will jeopardise investigations.
Mr Chikwekwe further ruled that their release was going to cause chaos and a public outcry.
He also directed that the 24 be examined by a government doctor, a process which he said can be undertaken while they are in custody.
The ruling is one of the unique cases where a magistrate denied accused bail despite the state consenting.
The 24 are facing charges of public violence after assaulting police officers, a ZBC cameraman, Relax Mafurutu and members of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ).
Source - zbc
