“Mliswa to stay in detention until next year”- Family member
2010 07 08
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/5585.html
08 July, 2010 11:00:00 By
“We have been told that they want to keep him in detention up to next year without a strong case like they did with Bennett (Roy), Jestina Mukoko
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Harare
Troubled Zanu PF official and businessman, Temba Mliswa was Thursday granted bail by a Harare magistrate but was snatched outside the doors of Harare remand prison by plain clothes police officers from the dreaded CID Homicide section, a few seconds after being released.
He was whisked away to Harare Central police station where he was being questioned on unspecified fresh charges.
The Daily News crew was at remand prison when Mliswa was released.
Mliswa walked about 15 metres from the remand prison door and was immediately taken into a waiting blue, Toyota Corolla sedan registration number AAO 3823 where he was sandwiched between two heavily built officers.
Relatives said four hours after he was released, police were still to press charges against the controversial businessman amid reports that senior police officers were scrounging for more cases linking Mliswa to crime.
Mliswa, who has been incarcerated for the past two weeks after he attacked police commissioner Augustine Chihuri describing him as the most corrupt individual in the country is likely to be pressed with more charges.
He was first arrested and charged with fraud over an ownership wrangle of a vehicle repairs company, Noshio Motors.
He was released on bail but was arrested a few minutes later.
Yesterday, the state wanted to pin down Mliswa on 40 different cases of fraud involving more than US$ 20 million allegedly committed in 2003 but magistrate Don Ndirowei granted him US$ 400 bail.
In granting bail, the magistrate said of the 40 cases brought before the courts all of them had either been withdrawn or he had been acquitted in court. He said this was not good enough to remand a person in custody.
Presidential affairs minister Didymus Mutasa ,an uncle to Mliswa has blasted police, in particular Chihuri for using state apparatus to settle personal matters.
Mliswa also claims that he is being continuously arrested by the police because he wrote a letter to Chihuri asking him to stop interfering in Noshio Motors where he is having a dispute with co-owner Paul Westwood. Mliswa accuses Chihuri of being a close associate of Westwood.
A Mliswa family member said: “The whole world can now see how police abuse the system to settle personal scores and to satisfy hidden agendas. In Zimbabwe it’s not about whether you are guilty or not but whether you are in line with the so called top guys.
“Temba has been granted bail twice and each time, police officers from the homicide section will be waiting for him. The police are saying they are getting orders from the top. Why can’t they bring all the cases together and charge him once.
“We have been told that they want to keep him in detention up to next year without a strong case like they did with Bennett (Roy), Jestina Mukoko and other human rights defenders. We hope he has leant his lesson that these Zanu PF people are cruel,” said the family member.
Mliswa’s case has torched a storm in government with police last week accusing Mutasa and co-minister of Home Affairs ,Theresa Makone of trying to intimidate officers to release Mliswa and his co-accused Martin Mutasa who is minister Mutasa’s son.