News / National
Standard Editor, Nqaba Matshazi out on $100 bail each
17 Nov 2011 at 07:42hrs | Views
The Standard Editor, Nevanji Madanhire and reporter Nqaba Matshazi who were arrested and detained on Tuesday were on Wednesday freed on $100 bail each.
The State then attempted to cause a media blackout on the court proceedings but Harare magistrate Sandra Mupindu threw out the application which the Attorney General's office sought to be included as one of the bail conditions.
Lawyers representing the journalists argued granting such an application would be tantamount to muzzling the press and besides, the application had been made at the wrong platform.
Madanhire and Matshazi are being charged with criminal defamation and theft of documents, charges emanating from the publication of a story by The Standard about Munyaradzi Kereke's medical aid company, Green Card, allegedly facing possible collapse.
AG's representative, Tapiwa Kasema, indicated it would not be in the best interest of Kereke, if the matter, in which the latter alleges the journalists seriously caused damage to both his reputation and his company, Green Card Medical Aid Society, continued to receive coverage.
Kasema wanted the press barred from publishing anything to do with the criminal defamation charge.
The magistrate dismissed the State's application concurring with the defence and said: "The issue of publication has not been put as a condition because that is the issue of the Civil Courts that deals with interdicts."
The State then attempted to cause a media blackout on the court proceedings but Harare magistrate Sandra Mupindu threw out the application which the Attorney General's office sought to be included as one of the bail conditions.
Lawyers representing the journalists argued granting such an application would be tantamount to muzzling the press and besides, the application had been made at the wrong platform.
AG's representative, Tapiwa Kasema, indicated it would not be in the best interest of Kereke, if the matter, in which the latter alleges the journalists seriously caused damage to both his reputation and his company, Green Card Medical Aid Society, continued to receive coverage.
Kasema wanted the press barred from publishing anything to do with the criminal defamation charge.
The magistrate dismissed the State's application concurring with the defence and said: "The issue of publication has not been put as a condition because that is the issue of the Civil Courts that deals with interdicts."
Source - HeraldOnline
