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Prosecutor acquitted in high-profile armed robbery bail case
27 Feb 2025 at 11:01hrs | Views
Harare regional magistrate Taurai Manuwere has acquitted prosecutor Mr. Tapiwa Kasema, who was accused of unlawfully consenting to bail for four notorious armed robbers, including the infamous Musa Taj Abdul. The ruling clears Mr. Kasema of allegations that he compromised judicial integrity by facilitating the suspects' release.
The State had argued that Mr. Kasema improperly consented to bail, but magistrate Manuwere ruled that there was no evidence to support claims of bribery or illicit financial transactions. The case, which dates back to 2020, centered around the arrest of Abdul, Tapiwa Rudolf, Godfrey Mupanhanga, and their accomplices in Beitbridge. The suspects were linked to a staggering 53 counts of armed robbery and were initially denied bail, remaining in custody.
However, in December 2020, Abdul, described as one of Zimbabwe's most notorious criminals, applied for bail again. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) assigned Mr. Kasema and two other officers to oppose the application, yet on December 8, Kasema allegedly consented to bail, reportedly bypassing standard legal procedures.
The decision sparked outrage when the CID Homicide Division flagged the High Court's ruling, prompting an investigation into how the suspects were released. Authorities alleged that Kasema had unlawfully facilitated their bail, leading to his arrest and prosecution.
During the trial, the State struggled to prove wrongdoing, and as the case progressed, its arguments collapsed under scrutiny. Magistrate Manuwere emphasized that there was no evidence linking Mr. Kasema to any corrupt dealings or misconduct, leading to his acquittal.
The State had argued that Mr. Kasema improperly consented to bail, but magistrate Manuwere ruled that there was no evidence to support claims of bribery or illicit financial transactions. The case, which dates back to 2020, centered around the arrest of Abdul, Tapiwa Rudolf, Godfrey Mupanhanga, and their accomplices in Beitbridge. The suspects were linked to a staggering 53 counts of armed robbery and were initially denied bail, remaining in custody.
However, in December 2020, Abdul, described as one of Zimbabwe's most notorious criminals, applied for bail again. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) assigned Mr. Kasema and two other officers to oppose the application, yet on December 8, Kasema allegedly consented to bail, reportedly bypassing standard legal procedures.
The decision sparked outrage when the CID Homicide Division flagged the High Court's ruling, prompting an investigation into how the suspects were released. Authorities alleged that Kasema had unlawfully facilitated their bail, leading to his arrest and prosecution.
During the trial, the State struggled to prove wrongdoing, and as the case progressed, its arguments collapsed under scrutiny. Magistrate Manuwere emphasized that there was no evidence linking Mr. Kasema to any corrupt dealings or misconduct, leading to his acquittal.
Source - the herald
