HARARE regional prosecutor Michael Reza yesterday told provincial magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe that incarcerated Zanu PF Harare provincial youth chairperson Godwin Gomwe had suicidal tendencies and, therefore, was not a suitable candidate for bail.
by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
Gomwe and six other accused persons are facing three counts of extortion involving $46 000. They allegedly used First Lady Grace Mugabe’s name to demand protection fees from housing co-operatives. Gomwe’s co-accused are Muchinerepi Mpindu, Fidelis Ndaradza, Humphrey Madenyika, Haruwandi Munyaviri, Norah Torongo and Josephine Hadziende.
“The first accused (Gomwe) is suicidal and was only disarmed by an army officer in Makuti when he tried to shoot himself with a pistol. He was also found with rat poison. These two items are being held by police as exhibits,” Reza told the court. “I believe it is the duty of the court to protect people even from themselves. This is a crime for which no one should lose their life.”
The prosecutor added that the maximum sentence for the matter would also induce the accused to abscond if granted bail.
“If convicted, the accused people can be sentenced to an effective 15 years. I have heard of people who fled from prison after being given two years’ sentence and for 15, they will fly, your worship,” he said.
Earlier on, he had told the court that the accused persons had a propensity to commit crimes and, therefore, they should be denied bail. He cited three other cases which were filed, but not prosecuted against the accused.
However, Gomwe’s lawyer John Ndomene argued that the State prosecutor was deliberately lying to have the accused stay behind bars.
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“The State papers claim that my client is 34 yet he is in fact 37. Can we truly believe the State when they lie about small things?” Ndomene said. “It’s malicious to say he has suicidal tendencies. My learned brother (Reza) is not a medical practitioner nor did they call any medical doctor to testify about my client’s psychological condition.”
He also argued that Gomwe handed himself over to the police in the company of his lawyer.
The defence argued that if the court was amenable to their arguments, the accused should be released on bail of $50, to hand over their travel documents to the clerk of court, reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses.
Regional magistrate Chikwekwe reserved judgment on the bail application to this morning.
