Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Biti illegal arrest claim thrown out

Biti illegal arrest claim thrown out
by Associateds Press
18/10/2010 00:00:00

A LAWYER for Finance Minister Tendai Biti says the Supreme Court has thrown out his case in which he claims his arrest and detention during 2008 elections was illegal.

Biti, secretary general of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led Movement for Democratic Change, was detained on charges of treason and for claiming victory for the opposition. The treason charge could have been punishable by the death penalty.
The MDC did win, but not by the margin needed to avoid a presidential run-off in June that year.

Attorney Lewis Uriri said the Supreme Court dismissed Biti's action against the police because court papers were not handled in time.

The slowness of the court system means "authorities can escape liability for abuses of fundamental rights," he said.
Biti says he'll appeal Monday's ruling.

Labels: COURTS, TENDAI BITI

posted by MrK @ 5:37 PM