Cops probe Chief Justice break-in

Daniel Nemukuyu Harare Bureau
BURGLARS broke into Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku’s chambers at the Supreme Court on Sunday night and stole a computer and a television set.
The Judicial Service Commission is investigating if any other items were stolen.
JSC acting secretary Justice Rita Makarau announced the burglary in a Press statement yesterday.
“The acting secretary of the Judicial Service Commission wishes to inform that the offices of the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe, Honourable GG Chidyausiku, located at Mashonganyika Building, were broken into,” she said.

“We believe this occurred during the night of Sunday August 31, 2014. The burglary was discovered during the morning of Monday September 1 2014.
“His desktop computer and a television set are among some of the items that were stolen. We are still assessing whether any other assets of the Chief Justice or the JSC were also stolen during the break-in.”

Justice Rita Makarau said the break-in was reported to the police and investigations were in progress.
“We are grateful to the police for their prompt attendance to our report. They have attended the scene of the crime and have commenced investigations into the matter,” she said.

Justice Makarau assured the nation that the theft would not affect any pending court cases.
“We would like to assure the public that the loss of the Chief Justice’s computer has no effect on any court matters or judgments pending before the Chief Justice or the Supreme and Constitutional courts,” she said.

Justice Makarau said the JSC believed the theft of computer could be motivated by a search for some information while the television set case could be mere theft for financial gain.

She said the break-in was the first of its kind in the history of the judiciary.
“It is the first such breaking into the judges’ chambers although we could have heard some related cases involving magistrates.
“We believe the police will do their best to establish the truth,” she said.

Yesterday detectives from Criminal Investigation Department (Law and Order section) could be seen pacing around Mashonganyika Building.