CHIEF Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi has on Wednesday granted top lawyer Thabani Mpofu ZWL 20 000 bail after a marathon court session that went past COVID-19 lock-down prescribed business hours.
Mpofu is facing two counts of obstructing the course of justice with alternative charge of fraud and perjury.
The State was led by Michael Reza and Brian Vito and they had vehemently opposed bail citing that Mpofu is a ‘a flight risk’ with propensity to abscond trial.
Reza based his submission on the fact that Mpofu wantonly neglected to avail himself upon being asked to present himself to the police.
The State also opposed bail saying there was overwhelming evidence in the form of affidavits. Mpofu’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa argued that the MDC A lawyer had no reason to abscond considering that this matter has been under investigations since early last year.
She also said the State has a weak case against them as it does not clearly spell out the manner in which the alleged offence was committed.
