adminSamuel Kadungure Senior Court Reporter
RUSAPE prosecutor, James Abraham Wirima, was arrested last week and remanded in custody on a second criminal abuse of public office charge.This was Wirima’s second arrest within a month and the third time in his 12-year prosecuting career, on corruption related charges. In the latest case, Wirima was allegedly paid $250 to facilitate the successful withdrawal of a rape case involving Watson Masikati against his two siblings, Liberty and Evelyn. The case was dropped in March and the matter came to light after a complaint by the two siblings.
Wirima was allegedly handling the matter at the Rusape Regional Court.
Wirima appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mrs Annie Ndiraya last Thursday and was remanded him in custody to May 28 for trial.
Mr Andrew Motsi prosecuted.
Mr Motsi called the investigating officer, Detective Simon Zifundo, who opposed bail, saying it was Wirima’s second similar offence in a month and if released he was likely to abscond considering the intensity of both cases.
Mr Passmore Nyakureba, of Maunga, Maanda and Associates and Mr Taurai Khupe, of Khupe Law Chambers represented him.
He is denying the charges, alleging that his arrest was being instigated by “an internal hand”.
Mrs Ndiraya ruled against the issuance of bail saying Wirima was a repeated offender and if granted bail was likely to continue committing similar offences, thereby compromising the integrity of the judiciary.
Mrs Ndiraya added that Wirima was a flight risk and if convicted was likely to face a lengthy custodial sentence.
Miss Ndiraya further stated that Wirima was an unsuitable candidate for bail as he committed the offence while on bail. This was despite arguments by his lawyers that the accused has been religiously adhering to both bail conditions.
Wirima is on bail on the Tenderere CRB 1538/15 case.
He is also on bail pending appeal following his conviction on a similar offence committed in Zvishavane.
The Zvishavane case is under CRB 258/10.
When he was arrested earlier this year, CID details in Rusape allegedly burst a sophisticated bribing syndicate, allegedly working on Wirima’s instructions.
The syndicate allegedly involved Lazarus Bonde and Given Mudzibwi — who allegedly approached and instructed criminal suspects to grease Wirima’s palms in exchange of their freedom.
The syndicate’s shoddy operations were exposed after a $500 bribery deal involving Nyanga rape and robbery suspect — Arnold Hatinahama Tenderere — went sour.
The matter was reported to CID Rusape after Tenderere’s alert relative discovered that Wirima was demanded an outstanding $250 yet the case had been withdrawn before plea in 2013.
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