Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
A 34-year-old Bulawayo woman who was arrested earlier this month on charges of illegal possession of ivory has been released on bail by a High Court judge.
High Court judge Justice Naison Chivayo granted Milliam Muchatirei US$300 bail, on medical grounds, after her lawyer, Mr Tinashe Runganga of Tanaka Law Chambers, applied.
In granting her bail, Justice Chivayo ordered that she reside at her given residential address, to report twice a week to the police and not to interfere with State witnesses.
In the application, Mr Runganga stated that she could not access necessary medical care in prison as she was receiving chemotherapy for cancer.
“She is a good candidate for bail and will not flee. She is not a flight risk as she is receiving treatment for cancer locally. I have attached documentation to that effect,” he said.
Muchatirei was arrested on September 1 in Bradfield by detectives who found her in possession of ivory bangles.
The detectives arrested her at the Shopping Centre, where, upon arrival, they posed as buyers before introducing themselves as detectives.
They searched and found the ivory in a brown carrier bag she was carrying.
Police recovered 42 polished ivory bangles and 12 polished ivory stamps of different sizes and shapes.
It was stated in documents that Muchatirei failed to produce a licence or permit allowing her to possess or sell the ivory items and was subsequently arrested.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, a 23-year-old man from Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo, who is facing charges of murder, was also granted bail by Justice Chivayo.
Despite the State being opposed to bail, Justice Chivayo granted Bursil Dube bail, saying some of the country’s prisons are at full capacity and continuously denying suspects bail would lead to overcrowding.
“Suspects are overcrowding in prisons; set the matter down for trial,” he ordered.
Justice Chivayo granted him US$300 bail and ordered him to report to the police twice a week, not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at his address.
According to the court, Dube committed the crime on April 10 this year and was allegedly on the run until he was arrested on April 22.
He is accused of stabbing the deceased, identified as Welcome Ntobeko Ncube, on the chest and stomach during a scuffle at a bar in Old Pumula suburb.
In his defence in court, Dube said he was not on the run and was in his rural area, tending to his grandmother, who is of ill health.
“I handed myself over to the police when I was informed that they were looking for me. I was not arrested in the manner it has been put that I was on the run,” he said.
