malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
A Mbare shebeen operator who allegedly sold beer to 11 minors, whose bingeing in the capital was caught on camera and went viral on Christmas Day, was denied bail when he appeared before a Mbare court.
Phaeton Mutiyaya, 23, was denied bail by magistrate Mr Batanai Madzingira, who remanded him in custody to January 11.
Mutiyaya is being charged with selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18, selling liquor without a permit and operating a shop without a licence.
He was not asked to plead to the charges.
The State, led by Ms Janet Mlambo, opposed bail, saying he was likely to continue illegally selling beer to juveniles, as well as interfere and intimidate the minors since they reside at the same place — Nenyere Flats — in Mbare.
The court heard that there was overwhelming evidence against the accused, as he was positively identified by the minors during police investigations.
In his bail application, Mutiyaya claimed there was no evidence that he was the actual person who sold beer to the minors.
He also told the court that in one of the videos, the minors are heard referring to the presence of a parent, whom he said could have been responsible for buying the beer.
Bongani Ndlovu