Zimbabwe magistrate who allowed Bennett’s lawyers to post bail has been arrested

Livingstone Chipadze, the magistrate who allowed Roy Bennett’s lawyers to post his bail has been arrested. The magistrate apparently faces charges of criminal abuse of office. Other Mutare magirstrates have gone on strike in solidarity with Chipadze.

Bennett’s lawyer has commented: “It is frightening if a magistrate is arrested because he has passed a judgment that is not popular with the state”.

Magistrate Chipadze is accused of improperly allowing Mr Bennett’s lawyers to deposit bail money and complying with other bail conditions on Tuesday.

After the bail money and his passport had been deposited with the Clerk of Court, a warrant to free Mr Bennett was issued.

Mr Farira told the BBC the warrant was immediately seized by a senior prison official, who then disappeared with it.

It is not immediately clear when Mr Chipadze will be taken to court. (Via the BBC).

The story so far:

• Roy Bennett stays in jail while the State is granted right to appeal
• MDC calls for the urgent release of Roy Bennett
• Roy Bennett is expected to be released tonight (tin-pot bureaucracy permitting)
• High Court dismisses State application to deny bail to Hon Bennett
• Roy Bennett heartened by the release of Jestina Mukoko
• Bennett is granted bail, but has to stay in Mutare Prison
• Roy Bennett granted access to lawyers – MDC
• Roy Bennett bail application on Tuesday – MDC
• Roy Bennett visits limited; no bail hearing set – MDC
• Roy Bennett remanded in custody until 4 March
• Some of the supporters keeping a vigil for Roy Bennett in Mutare
• TAKE ACTION for Roy Bennett
• Live ammunition fired, and dogs brought in to Mutare Police Station
• Alert: Roy Bennett Arrested (updates through the weekend)

This entry was posted by Sokwanele2 on Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm. You can follow any comments on this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.