Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe was on Friday released on stringent bail conditions. He was ordered to $3 000 bail, to report to the police four times a week and his surety value was increased from $30 000 t0 $50 000.
Guvamombe, who was already on suspension facing a criminal abuse of office charge, was arrested on Friday and brought before the court on the same day. He is now facing a fresh charge of defeating the course of justice.
The new charge was brought after Guvamombe allegedly ordered his junior, Harare Regional Magistrate Elijah Makomo to surrender a case which involved a son to the former’s business partner.
Guvamombe’s lawyer, Jonathan Samkange said that his client was being humiliated by the state after he was tossed around without being brought to court. Said Samkange:
What makes the abuse more pronounced is that it is being committed against the Chief Magistrate.
We were sitting in their (prosecutors) office at 12 pm to 15:30 pm. They then took him to the cells. This was meant to humiliate him considering he is the boss here.
Guvamombe’s bail application presided over by Harare magistrate Morgan Nemadire.