adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO High Court Judge yesterday dismissed an application for bail pending appeal against both conviction and sentence by a senior public prosecutor Admire Chikwayi who was jailed for 18 months for abuse of office.
Chikwayi was sentenced to 24 months in prison, but six months were suspended for five years on condition he does not within that period commit an offence involving dishonesty.
The state says on November 17, 2014, Nicholas Khawulami Masuku reported at the CID Homicide in Bulawayo that Chikwayi had asked for a $300 bribe. Chikwayi fell into a trap set for him as he received the $300 from Masuku.
Justice Lawrence Kamocha dismissed Chikwayi’s application yesterday saying there were no prospects of success on appeal against both conviction and sentence.
Prosecutor Whisper Mabaudi said Chikwayi was likely to abscond if released on bail.
“The court had the discretion to come up with the sentence and Chikwayi can’t readily point out any misdirection. Due to the fact that there’re no prospects of success on appeal against both conviction and sentence, there’re reasonable fears that applicant will abscond from the jurisdiction of this court before the matter is concluded,” said Mabaudi.
He added that a number of lawyers are fugitives from justice.
Chikwayi’s lawyer Kholwani Ngwenya of Mabhikwa and Partners insisted that his client never solicited for money from Masuku and that he never received any money.
“Masuku wanted to fix Chikwayi and the grudge was emanating from a residential stands deal that went bad when Chikwayi failed to honour his side of the bargain,” said Ngwenya.
Online Reporter