HARARE – Suspected illegal forex traders arrested on Independence Day last week will spend more time in jail after their bail ruling was deferred to this Wednesday to allow parties to submit written submissions in the case.
Some of the accused who were self-acting were remanded in custody after the state opposed bail stating that they were facing a serious offence.
“There are compelling reasons. If convicted, the accused can be sentenced to a custodial sentence and that might force them to flee from this court’s jurisdiction if granted bail,” said Thomas Chanakira, appearing for the state on Monday.
A tense atmosphere prevailed at the courts where scores of people attended in solidarity with the accused, with some breaking down after bail ruling was rolled over.
Some lawyers refused to speak to the media for fear of “being associated” with their clients.
A lawyer who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was awkward that the courts did not find that some suspects had circumstances which warranted their immediate liberty.
“It is not fair that the court is treating the case as one, yet the suspects were separately arrested.
“For example, the case outlined against my client has nothing to do with forex trading. Circumstances have no link at all and he is innocent,” he said.
Another lawyer said police employed a dragnet arrest and ended up locking ordinary citizens who were going about their personal business in town.
Prosecutors say some of the suspects were in found in possession of Point of Sale machines, something they argue links them to the alleged crime.
It is also alleged that in some circumstances, undercover detectives used trap money to arrest the accused.
The cases are being heard before two courts being presided over by magistrates Dennis Mangosi and Ethel Chichera.
Lancelot Mutsokoti is representing the state in the other court.
