Rusape prosecutor granted bail

Court Reporter
FIVE lawyers from Rusape and Mutare teamed up to put a spirited legal challenge to secure the release of James Wirima, a prosecutor based at Rusape Magistrates’ Court after the State had opposed bail.

Wirima appeared before Ms Sekesai Chiundura last Thursday facing charges of abusing public office after allegedly soliciting for a bribe from a rape and robbery suspect, Arnold Hatinahama Tenderere, to spare him jail.

The lawyers, Messrs Passmore Nyakureba, Leonard Chigadza, Taurai Khupe, Victor Chinzambwa and Chris Ndlovu, jointly come to the rescue of Wirima. Mr Marvin Musarurwa had opposed bail and had called the investigating officer, Detective Mavis Ganyata, to bolster his case.

Det Ganyata, however, was the first to retract her earlier stance after the four grounds she had presented collapsed like a deck of cards during cross-examination by Mr Nyakureba.

Mr Musarurwa then addressed the court about the change of circumstances. Wirima was eventually granted $200 bail, with reporting conditions. It was the State’s case that Wirima allegedly pocketed a $248 bribe from Tenderere.

The accused allegedly approached Tenderere and told him to attend court on January 30, 2015, but on arrival, directed him to Rusape Bus Terminus to see and receive instructions from his runner, one Lazarus Bonde. Tenderere’s case had been withdrawn before plea sometime in 2013, but Bonde told him to pay $500 for his freedom.

Tenderere paid $48 on March 13 and $200 a week later.

On April 9, 2015, Tenderere was supposed to clear off the $252 , when his brother Endless, a police officer lodged a complaint to the police after discovering that the case had been withdrawn before plea on September 26, 2013. A trap was then set with police giving Arnold fake $250 for onward submission to Bonde under surveillance. As usual, Bonde called Wirima, who told him that he was going to Murambinda on business. Bonde was further instructed to pass the money to Mudzibwi. Mudzibwi was told to pay $50 to Bonde for his intermediary role. As the two transacted, CID officials pounced and recovered the money. Bonde and Mudzibwi admitted working under Wirima’s instructions. An attempt to lay an ambush for Wirima failed to yield desired results as he failed to pitch and collect the money from Mudzibwi. Efforts to locate him since Thursday were without success until he surrendered himself on Tuesday after repeated phone call exchanges with police.