Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO provincial magistrate convicted of criminal abuse of office and jailed has been granted US$300 bail pending appeal against both conviction and sentence.
Evia Matura (47), who had started serving an effective 18-month prison term, was yesterday released on bail by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Bongani Ndlovu after the State consented to the application.
Matura was convicted after ordering the release on bail of a remand prisoner although there had been no High Court directive granting bail nor an application for change of circumstances.
She was stationed at the Magistrates Court in Bulawayo at Tredgold Buildings at the time.
Through her lawyers, led by Advocate Tazorora Musarurwa, Matura approached the High Court seeking bail pending appeal.
As part of the bail conditions, she was ordered to reside at 182 Murchison Road, Killarney, Bulawayo, surrender her passport to the Assistant Registrar of the High Court and report twice monthly at Bulawayo Central Police Station between 6am and 6pm on Fridays.
