By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC Alliance vice President Tendai Biti was yesterday freed on $10,000 bail after spending a night behind bars on charges of assault.

Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti set his trial date for January 18.

The charge against Biti relates to an alleged incident that occurred at the Harare magistrates Court where he was representing one of feuding parties in a land dispute.

Biti, who is also a qualified lawyer, was involved in litigation, representing a client in the Harare Airport Road scandal.

In court, prosecutor Idah Maromo argued that Biti had assaulted Russian national Tatiana Aleshina by threatening her, pointing his finger at her face, shouting insults at the top of his voice, “intending to inspire fear of belief into her mind”.

Biti denied the charge and his party described it as “trumped up”.