Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
A SUSPECTED armed robber’s bid to deceive the High Court by using a different name in a fresh bail application has spectacularly backfired, with the court dismissing the case as a repeat of an earlier rejected bid.
The 39-year-old suspect, who has been in custody since his arrest on January 11, 2025, faces charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Initially, he appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court as Justin Mpofu, where his request for bail was denied, and he was remanded in custody.
However, in a surprising turn, the same man recently resurfaced before the High Court, now identifying himself as Ryan Ncube, and sought release on US$250 bail through what prosecutors described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the court.
State prosecutors opposed the application, arguing that the accused was trying to disguise his earlier failed bail bid by assuming a different identity and pretending the case was new.
Justice Ngoni Nduna, who presided over the matter, agreed with the prosecution, noting that the accused had previously appeared before the same court under CRB number HCBCR 285/25 on February 17, 2025, when his initial bail application was denied because he was not a suitable candidate for release.
“What is clear is that the accused is being arraigned as Justin Mpofu. He now elects to be called Ryan Ncube,” Justice Nduna said.
“The question is not whether the accused is Mpofu or Ncube, it is whether he has appeared before this court seeking bail previously.
“If the answer is yes, then this application is premised on the wrong provision of the law.”
Justice Nduna said the accused’s conduct amounted to abuse of the court process, as he had attempted to recycle the same facts under a new identity to secure his release.
“It is an abuse of court process to simply reshuffle or repackage old facts and present them as new.
“Whatever names the accused may use, the underlying factor remains that he must disclose that it is not an initial application.”
Having failed to provide any new facts or changed circumstances to justify a fresh bail hearing, the court dismissed the application outright, describing it as a misguided attempt to exploit the justice system through deception.
The suspect remains in custody awaiting trial on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
