adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
John Raphael Masuku who is facing four counts of unlawful entry, eight counts of theft and another charge of deliberately supplying false information to a public authority, was yesterday denied bail.
His lawyer, Godwin Sengweni, of T Hara and Partners applied for bail saying it was Masuku’s right to be granted bail as the state’s case was weak.
Magistrate Tinashe Tashaya dismissed the bail application yesterday saying Masuku was likely to interfere with witnesses and tamper with evidence.
“If accused is granted bail it will be easy for him to hide some of the stolen property still in his possession. Investigations are still underway and releasing him may disturb the whole process,” said Tashaya.
He advised Masuku and his lawyer to be patient as trials in the Magistrate Court do not take long to conclude.
“You are remanded in custody to January 27 when you will be given a trial date,” said the magistrate.
Masuku was arrested last Saturday after police recovered stolen property, some buried underground in his yard.
The other property was found stashed away in the ceiling of his house.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango earlier said the stolen property included laptops, generators, solar panels and plasma television sets.
She said police also used a truck to ferry some of the stolen property from Masuku’s rural home in Ntabazinduna.
Masuku has previously been charged with 19 counts of theft of motor vehicles and a count of robbery with the State lining up more than 50 witnesses against him.
Reports in 2003 described Masuku, who was facing charges of stealing nine luxury vehicles worth more than $9,7 million as a notorious carjacker.
In 2004, he was jailed for an effective seven years for some of the cases.
Online Reporter