Mutawatawa based Magistrate Edwin Marecha (42) has been arraigned before the Murehwa Magistrates Court facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleges that on the 5th of September 2022 the accused person received a bribe of USD80 from Artwell Paraffin.
Paraffin had been coerced into paying the bribe by one Taurai Zariro who was the go between facilitating the bribe between Paraffin and the accused person.
The bribe was for the Magistrate to give Artwell Paraffin’s relative, Gardner Gomba a non-custodial sentence or a fine for an assault case which was due for plea recording in Mutawatawa court. The offence came to light when Artwell Paraffin went to court expecting Gardner Gomba to appear before the accused person and for the matter to proceed as arranged.
When his relative did not appear before the accused person he then realised that he had been duped by Taurai Zariro as the same could not assist him as he was neither a police officer nor an officer of the court.
The accused person has been granted ZWL$30 000 bail and the matter has been remanded to the 27th of February 2023.
