Harare provincial magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini yesterday ordered the police to release the motor vehicle belonging to one of the three women, who were arrested on suspicion of committing a spate of ritualistic sex attacks on male hitchhikers.
The magistrate said the application by Netsayi Nhokwara’s lawyer, Dumisani Mthombeni, to release her Toyota Chaser vehicle, was not opposed by the State.
“No cogent reasons were proffered by the State save to say the defence should approach the police for the release of the motor vehicle,” said the magistrate.
Mthombeni had made an application raising security concerns of his clients, Rosemary Chakwizira, Sophie Nhokwara and Netsayi Nhokwara, saying their lives were in danger from members of the public.
He submitted his clients needed the motor vehicle for purposes of reporting to police and attending court proceedings while protected from possible attacks by the public.
“The court concurs with the counsel for the defence that the accused are exposed to the public and are known. It is not in dispute that they were at one point attacked by a mob and sought refuge at a police station,” magistrate Jarabini said.
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“They are supposed to be protected from the unruly elements who may want to take the law into their own hands and therefore the motor vehicle should be released to the owner, Netsayi Nhokwara,” he ruled.
However, the magistrate further issued an order barring Nhokwara from selling the said vehicle until the finalisation of their case.
Chakwizira and the Nhokwara sisters were arrested last month together with Thulani Ngwenya and charged with 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault.
They are suspected to be part of a gang of women that terrorised the country through drugging and sexually abusing men.
It is alleged they were arrested after they arrived at an accident scene in Lower Gweru and asked police officers to be allowed to retrieve 33 condoms, some of which contained semen.