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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Marange, Chiadzwa and other diamond fields and the Kimberley Process - Index of articles
Maguwu
denied bail
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
June 10, 2010
The Center
for Research and Development (CRD) Director, Mr. Farai Maguwu
was today; 10 June 2010 denied bail when he appeared before Harare
magistrate, Donald Ndirowei.
Delivering his judgement,
Ndirowei said that the police needed more time tp carry out investigations
while Maguwu remained in custody. The matter was postponed to the
23rd of June 2010. However the defense team led by Tinoziva Bere,
told the catalyst that they intend to apply for the bail at the
High Court.
Maguwu who is
facing charges of contravening section 31 of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act by allegedly publishing and
communicating falsehoods, was arrested on Thursday 03 June 2010
in Mutare after he handed himself to the police.
According to state prosecutor,
Phyllis Zvenyika, on the 26th of May 2010, Maguwu allegedly produced
a report which detailed human rights abuses carried out by the police
at Chiadzwa diamond fields. The document contained names of perpetrators,
statistics of the abused including their hospital and mortuary in
records. Zvenyika told the court that Maguwu is facing the charges
of publishing and communicating false reports to Antony Detta and
Gabriel Shumba.
The defense council opposed
the allegations arguing that the Zimbabwean constitution guarantees
every citizen freedom of expression and that the affidavit written
by Detective Inspector Dhowa, a known human rights violator was
vague and contradicted the allegations labeled against Maguwu. The
defense council also added that the information on the report cannot
be authenticated within 5 days and 'the police should not
arrest to investigate but should investigate to arrest'. The
Defense also accused Inspector Dhowa of arresting Maguwu without
issuing a warrant of arrest and detaining him for more than the
constitutionally allowed 48 hours without any court appearance.
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