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Magistrate arrested over extortion allegations
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A senior magistrate stationed at the Mutare Civil Court, Xavier Chipato (33), has been arrested and appeared in court facing serious allegations of extortion and bribery.
Chipato was arraigned before Mutare provincial magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura, charged with extortion as defined under Section 134 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), and alternatively with bribery under Section 170(1)(a)(i) of the same Act. Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira prosecuted.
According to the State, between July 6 and 17 this year, Chipato was presiding over a civil case in which a woman named Juliet Vera was the defendant. It is alleged that on July 6, the magistrate initiated contact with Vera and gave her his personal phone number.
The following day, Chipato reportedly called Vera and demanded a "token of appreciation" amounting to US$150, promising to rule in her favour by setting aside the case on grounds of improper service of summons.
The State alleged that on July 8, Chipato went on to preside over the matter and indeed ruled that the summons had been improperly served. However, just hours after court, he allegedly made several WhatsApp calls to Vera, explicitly demanding payment of the promised US$150.
When Vera failed to comply, Chipato is said to have threatened her, warning that she would never win a civil case and that he would "deal with her" in future proceedings. On July 17, he presided over the main trial and, according to the prosecution, denied her the opportunity to present her defence. He then ruled against her, ordering her to vacate her shop and pay the claimed debt.
Prosecutor Mutyasira told the court that Chipato had acted unlawfully and in gross abuse of his judicial authority for personal gain.
Investigations confirmed that the cellphone number used in the alleged communication was registered in Chipato's name through the EcoCash platform.
Chipato was granted bail on several conditions - he is to deposit US$200, report fortnightly to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) offices, reside at his given address, and refrain from interfering with State witnesses.
He was remanded to November 14 for continuation of trial.
Chipato was arraigned before Mutare provincial magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura, charged with extortion as defined under Section 134 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), and alternatively with bribery under Section 170(1)(a)(i) of the same Act. Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira prosecuted.
According to the State, between July 6 and 17 this year, Chipato was presiding over a civil case in which a woman named Juliet Vera was the defendant. It is alleged that on July 6, the magistrate initiated contact with Vera and gave her his personal phone number.
The following day, Chipato reportedly called Vera and demanded a "token of appreciation" amounting to US$150, promising to rule in her favour by setting aside the case on grounds of improper service of summons.
The State alleged that on July 8, Chipato went on to preside over the matter and indeed ruled that the summons had been improperly served. However, just hours after court, he allegedly made several WhatsApp calls to Vera, explicitly demanding payment of the promised US$150.
When Vera failed to comply, Chipato is said to have threatened her, warning that she would never win a civil case and that he would "deal with her" in future proceedings. On July 17, he presided over the main trial and, according to the prosecution, denied her the opportunity to present her defence. He then ruled against her, ordering her to vacate her shop and pay the claimed debt.
Prosecutor Mutyasira told the court that Chipato had acted unlawfully and in gross abuse of his judicial authority for personal gain.
Investigations confirmed that the cellphone number used in the alleged communication was registered in Chipato's name through the EcoCash platform.
Chipato was granted bail on several conditions - he is to deposit US$200, report fortnightly to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) offices, reside at his given address, and refrain from interfering with State witnesses.
He was remanded to November 14 for continuation of trial.
Source - ManicaPost
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