The High Court has reserved judgment in the case in which jailed Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke is seeking release on bail pending appeal. Kereke is serving a 10-year prison term for raping his 13-year-old niece at gunpoint. Justice Owen Tagu reserved ruling after hearing submissions from both parties' lawyers.Advocate Thabani Mpofu argued the matter for Kereke while private prosecutor Mr Charles Warara opposed the appeal. In his bid for freedom, Kereke offered two upmarket houses with a combined market value of more than $600 000 as surety and increased bail money to $3000.
Alternatively, Kereke proposed to be placed under house arrest plus reporting to Harare Central daily, among other conditions, in a bid to convince the court that he would not abscond if released. Adv Mpofu told the judge yesterday that chances were high that his client would be set free on appeal.
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