Police bid to gag media flops

Police's bid to exclude the media from covering the case in which five constables are challenging the retraining they are required to do after serving sentences in detention barracks for misconduct hit a snag yesterday after the High Court rejected the request.

The five, who were taken to Morris Deport after serving their sentences at Chikurubi for separate acts of misconduct, are claiming that the retraining amounts to unlawful detention and torture.

They are Constables Tichivanhu, (force number 061763H), Charumbira (064364k), Chikwasha (065740F), Mabvundwi (067736A) and Masunda (071728P).

Tineyi Dodo of the Attorney-General's Office, who is appearing for the State, had moved a motion to exclude the media from covering the inquiry, arguing that it was in the interest of justice.

But Justice Francis Bere threw out the request, saying there was no legal basis to bar the media from covering the inquiry.

He allowed the police application to have Constables Tichivanhu, Charumbira and Chikwasha recalled to testify afresh and give Senior Assistant Commissioner Grace Ndebele a chance to respond to the allegations levelled against her by the five, who accuse her of the abuse, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment they allege to be suffering while in detention.

The defence attorney Norman Mugiya agreed to the request, saying it would not prejudice his clients' case.

Justice Bere then postponed the case to Monday to allow Snr Asst Comm Ndebele to appear before him to defend herself.