High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe yesterday issued an interim order which runs until August 10 this year, stopping the arrest of Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo for contempt of court for defying two High Court orders ordering him to facilitate the release of $1,5 million and $78 900 unlawfully seized from a Mutare businessman Mr Tendai Blessing Mangwiro in 2008. The High Court is expected to make a ruling on whether Chombo executed the order or not.
Last year, Justice Amy Tsanga ordered Chombo to facilitate the release of money confiscated by police from Mr Mangwiro upon his arrest on criminal charges before the court cleared him. Justice Tsanga found the minister guilty of contempt of court for failing to ensure payment of the $78 900 to Mr Mangwiro in terms of a court order and jailed him for three months with labour. The judge said the sentence could be wholly suspended if Minister Chombo complied with the court orders he defied.
In the urgent chamber application, Minister Chombo, through his lawyers, indicated that he was aware that the Sheriff was hunting him but the arrest would be a violation of his rights as he had complied with the orders by writing to Treasury to release the money.
More: Herald
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