'Baba Jukwa' threatens Chihuri

SUNDAY MAIL editor Edmund Kudzayi who is facing charges of attempting to subvert a constitutionally elected government has demanded that police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri speeds up his investigations.

Kudzayi has threatened legal action against the police chief in the event that he fails to comply.

Through his lawyer, Admire Rubaya, Kudzayi who has been linked to the shadowy Face Book character Baba Jukwa, accused the police of buying time and of "arresting to investigate".

In a letter dated 12 January 2015 which is also copied to the Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana and Justice Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kudzayi accuses the state of employing delaying tactics in his trial.

"It is common cause that our client was arrested in June 2014, where the state claimed it had ample evidence and would be ready for trial by July of the same year. Seven months have since passed," said Rubaya.

"In the intervening period, our client has made a number of applications for further refusal of remand which have been opposed by the state on the basis of supposed extra territorial investigations which the state now claims evidence that is fundamental to the progress of the case".

Kudzayi's lawyer accused chief state investigator of being a failure and having made "little progress" despite having promised otherwise.

Rubaya said it became "apparent during an application for variation of bail conditions before the High Court, that the responsible police officer, assistant commissioner Crispen Makedenge had made little progress apart from making a request for mutual legal assistance which was only done on 3 October 2014".

"It was indicated to the court that the American justice department had acknowledged receipt of the request and committed to respond within 60 days. The period in which the response was promised has since elapsed," said Rubaya.

The lawyer said his client was taking legal action if he discovers that police were misleading the courts.

"We wish to put it on record that we will be taking appropriate legal actions if it later becomes apparent that the police were furnished with a response (perhaps unfavourable) but wilfully misled the court at our last court appearance by claiming otherwise," he said.

Rubaya said he doubted whether investigating officer Makedenge had travelled to USA to carry out investigations.

Last year, Makedenge was reported to have travelled to the USA to meet with Google officials as part of his investigations in the shadowy Face Book page, Baba Jukwa case.

"We have reason to believe that he (Makedenge) did not travel to America. If it is later proven that he was not part of the team that travelled, we will be taking appropriate legal action. In addition this will raise serious questions about the motives of the police in misleading the nation about this important case," said Rubaya.

Kudzayi was arrested following claims that he was linked to the shadowy Facebook character Baba Jukwa. He is facing charges of attempting to subvert a constitutionally-elected government, banditry, insurgency and demeaning the office of the president and is jointly charged with his brother Phillip.