MAMOMBE, CHIMBIRI DENIED BAIL
THE MDC pair of Joanna Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri
was yesterday denied bail.
The presiding magistrate ruled that the two have shown complete disregard of the rule of law as they continue to commit similar offences while out on bail.
The two were back in court yesterday before Harare regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje.
Reading out his ruling, Mambanje said the duo failed to discharge the onus that was on them to prove that they don’t have the propensity to commit similar offences as alleged by the State in opposing bail.
“The court is asked to give its ruling on whether the two should be granted bail or not.
“In applying for bail they argued that these are trumped up charges that have arisen after the police failed to prove the first charges of their participation in a public gathering which they were arrested for last year.
“The state seeks to rely on the law of circumstances arguing that they two have the propensity to commit similar offences as they are on bail on two other separate charges.
“On both occasions, they were entrusted with bail, but the State claims that they went on to commit other offences and it would appear that they conduct has stretched the patience of the court and the State and they shouldn’t be entrusted again with bail.
“The two didn’t dispute that they have two pending cases and the court interferes with the liberty of accused persons whenever they continue committing offenses while on bail.
“It is therefore in my view that any person who commits a similar offence while on bail shows contempt of the rule of law and in these circumstances the onus falls on the accused persons to prove that they won’t commit a similar offence while on bail, for the third time in this case and the court finds little reason to trust them. It won’t be in the best interest of justice to grant bail,” he said.
The two are accused of undermining the authority of a police officer.
Sheila Mupindu and Audrey Chogumaira appeared for the State.