JUSTICE FOR SALE: JSC OFFICER, EX-MAGISTRATE NABBED
A JUDICIAL Service Commission e-filing officer allegedly received a bribe to alter a judgment at the High Court.
Takudzwa Marlon Muza, who is facing bribery charges, is back in court today for bail considerations.
He appeared in court over the weekend after he allegedly received a bribe from Allen Nhamo Bhaswi to alter a judgment at the High Court.
The court heard that in September last year, Bhaswi received a judgment in his favour at Murehwa Magistrates Civil Court.
The other party then appealed against the judgment at the Harare High Court.
On Tuesday last week, Bhaswi filed his response at the High Court and was assisted by Muza who promised to assist him to get a favourable outcome as he was close to the judge who was going to deal with the matter.
Muza ordered Bhaswi to pay US$700, which he said was going to be shared by court officials who were going to deal with his case, including the judge.
Bhaswi paid US$350 to Muza as part payment on Thursday.
ZACC officials caught wind of the illicit deal and arrested the duo and the money was recovered from Muza.
They also recovered a Criminal Investigations Division identity card bearing Muza’s name but with a fake national identity number.
Bhaswi appeared on a separate charge in a case in which his co-accused is former magistrate Shane Kubonera.
The complainant in the matter is Harare lawyer Shingirai Nyengere.
The court heard that in June last year, Bhaswi engaged Nyengere for legal services and thereafter a social relationship developed between them.
In September, Bhaswi contacted Ngengere and misrepresented to him that he had the capacity to facilitate for him to be granted an agricultural loan of US$60 000.
Nyengere paid US$248 for the loan application.
Nyengere lost over US$11 000 to Bhaswi.