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Prophet Magaya to seek High Court bail
2 hrs ago |
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Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder, Prophet Walter Magaya, is set to approach the High Court seeking bail following his arrest on November 1 on charges of fraud and rape.
The 42-year-old clergyman was on Tuesday remanded in custody to November 13 on the rape charge, after Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa ruled that only the High Court has jurisdiction to hear bail applications in such cases.
In a separate matter, Magaya - who is jointly charged with his wife Tendai Magaya and their companies, Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd - faces a fraud charge and was remanded in custody to November 18. Tendai was, however, granted $500 bail.
Magaya's lawyer, Admire Rubaya, confirmed that they will apply for bail at the High Court for both cases.
Earlier this week, the defence had asked the court to declare Magaya's arrest unlawful, arguing that he had been detained beyond the constitutionally prescribed 48-hour limit, but Magistrate Gofa ruled that he could instead pursue civil remedies against the police.
Magaya is facing five counts of rape involving two women, in addition to 13 counts of fraud linked to a church housing project that allegedly failed to materialise.
Prosecutors allege that through Planet Africa and Yadah Connect - represented in court by operations manager Tatenda Chinguwa - the couple received US$50,000 and R190,000 from homeseekers after falsely claiming to have secured land for residential stands and investment projects in various locations including Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Fern Valley (Mutare), Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame, and Nyatsime.
The 42-year-old clergyman was on Tuesday remanded in custody to November 13 on the rape charge, after Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa ruled that only the High Court has jurisdiction to hear bail applications in such cases.
In a separate matter, Magaya - who is jointly charged with his wife Tendai Magaya and their companies, Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd - faces a fraud charge and was remanded in custody to November 18. Tendai was, however, granted $500 bail.
Earlier this week, the defence had asked the court to declare Magaya's arrest unlawful, arguing that he had been detained beyond the constitutionally prescribed 48-hour limit, but Magistrate Gofa ruled that he could instead pursue civil remedies against the police.
Magaya is facing five counts of rape involving two women, in addition to 13 counts of fraud linked to a church housing project that allegedly failed to materialise.
Prosecutors allege that through Planet Africa and Yadah Connect - represented in court by operations manager Tatenda Chinguwa - the couple received US$50,000 and R190,000 from homeseekers after falsely claiming to have secured land for residential stands and investment projects in various locations including Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Fern Valley (Mutare), Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame, and Nyatsime.
Source - zimlive
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