In a welcome development, the state prosecutor who did not oppose bail for notorious armed robber Musa Taj Abdul and this three fellow armed robbers and gang members has been suspended.
Many people were shocked to learn that prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema had consented to the bail application for Taj Abdul and three of this accomplices, despite the fact that Taj Abdul had been on the police wanted list since 1999. Even worse, he was finally apprehended following a shootout with the police.
Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi was not pleased with the way Kasema conducted himself in the bail application and has since suspended him pending the outcome of an investigation into why he had not opposed the granting of bail.
On Monday, High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero granted Taj Abdul ZWL$5000 (approximately US$60) bail after the Kasema consented to the granting of bail. Justice Chikowero also granted bail to two other armed robbers who were part of Taj Abdul’s gang. 27-year-old Godfrey Mupamhanga was granted ZWL$5000 (approximately US$60) bail while 29-year-old Tapiwa Kanhanga was granted ZWL$2000 (approximately US$25) bail. A fourth gang member, 31-year-old Douglas Mutenda was also granted bail.
As part of their bail conditions, Justice Chikowero also ordered the four to reside at their given addresses and to report to the police every Friday between 6 am and 6 pm until the matter has been resolved. The order did not mention anything about passports.
National Prosecuting Authority Chief Law Officer Justin Uladi told the Herald that Kasema has been suspended and that the matter has now been referred to the police for investigations. He also said that the National Prosecuting Authority would launch an appeal against Justice Chikowero’s decision to grant the armed robbers bail.
The armed robbers never got the chance to taste freedom as they were arrested on fresh new charges before they had managed to post the bail money. The police requested that the quartert should remain in custody pending their court appearance on the new charges as well as further investigations. In a brief statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said:
“As far as we are concerned, Musa Taj Abdul is still under remand and if there are any changes, we wait to be advised by the relevant Judiciary department.”
Taj Abdul is alleged to have committed at least 53 armed robberies as well as several murder cases.