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Court Reporter
One of the touts who allegedly stripped a woman at the Fourth Street commuter omnibus rank recently, surrendered himself to the police on Thursday. This brings to three the number of people implicated in the indecent assault case.
Blessing Chinodakufa (31) was yesterday brought before the courts.
While making his bail application, Chinodakufa, who is not represented, told the court that he was a suitable candidate for bail considering that he handed himself over to the police.
“Mambo wangu mukandipa mukana wekutongwa ndichibva kumba handitize nekuti kana kumapurisa ndakazviendesa ndega pandakangonzwa kuti varikunditsvaga. (Your worship I will not abscond if granted bail considering that I surrendered to the police,” he said.
Chinodakufa said he was a family man hence he deserved the court’s lenience.
“My wife is actually outside with our minor child so please your worship I beg, grant me bail.”
He added that he was assisting the police with investigations by identifying his alleged accomplices appearing on the video clip which is circulating on social media whereby the gang was caught on camera stripping the defenceless woman.
Prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira opposed bail arguing that granting the tout freedom would not send the right message to would-be offenders. She said the State’s case was strong and there was overwhelming evidence against Chinodakufa.
“Your worship the accused person is facing a serious offence and looking at the perennial provisions, which give an option of imprisonment if convicted, this will induce the accused to abscond.
“The court should honour its duty and protect the society from people like these touts,” she said.
Magistrate Mr Milton Serima, concurred with the State and remanded Chinodakufa in custody to January 12.
In his ruling he said, “Due to the attention this matter has attracted, the court is convinced that you are likely to abscond. You might have surrendered yourself to the police without knowing the consequences, thinking that this was a petty issue. Now that you know the seriousness of the offence, surely you will run away,” Mr Serima said.
He added, “To safeguard the interests of justice, bail is denied.”
Last week human rights activists staged a demonstration at the courts when one of the touts Marvellous Kandemiri appeared in court. The placard-waving demonstrators condemned touts for their unbecoming behaviour.
Online Reporter