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(NEWZIMBABWE) Gwisai freed after bail money delays

Gwisai freed after bail money delays
by Staff Reporter
18/03/2011 00:00:00

FORMER Highfield MP Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others charged with treason finally walked free from prison on Thursday after failing to secure bail money on time Thursday.

The six were granted US$2,000 bail each by High Court judge Samuel Kudya on Wednesday, but their lawyers were unable to secure the funds before the Clerk of Court’s office closed.

Gwisai, clutching a couple of books and donning his trademark beret and a T-Shirt written “World at a crossroads”, smiled as he left prison with his lawyer Alec Muchadehama.

His two wives were on standby along with a dozen supporters who broke into song and dance at the sight of the International Socialist Organisation’s Zimbabwe coordinator and his colleagues arrested on February 19.

Despite the weakness of the evidence against the six – who were arrested with 39 others, who were later released, for attending a lecture and for watching a video of the pro-democracy revolts in Tunisia and Egypt – the charges of treason are serious and they could receive the death penalty if they are found guilty.

The six have been required to hand over their passports and must check in at their local police station three times a week until their trial begins on March 21.

When issuing bail, High Court Judge Samuel Kudya said the state had failed to make its case that the accused were a threat to the Zimbabwean state.

"I see no iota of evidence that any Zimbabwean ever contemplated any Tunisian or Egyptian revolution," the judge said.

Labels: MUNYARADZI GWISAI

posted by MrK @ 4:57 PM