Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo’s deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa was on Friday denied bail and remanded in custody to Saturday 5 November by Harare Magistrate, Vakai Chikwekwe.
Gandawa who is jointly charged with and ZIMDEF Principal Director of Finance of Nicholas Mukute, is facing charges of defrauding the parastatal of $430 000 and abuse of office among other charges.
Magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe denied a bail application by Dr Gandawa’s lawyer Bernard Chidziva who argued that his client has a right to liberty.
Chidziva further told the court that Investigating Officers who were working on his client’s case once hinted that they were through with investigations hence no need to deny him bail.
However State Prosecutor, Lovett Masuku argued that the accused (Dr Gandawa) was likely to interfere with the state witnesses.
Masuku told the court that Gandawa is facing serious offence adding that during investigations, the accused forged documents to try and cover up his offence.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Chikwekwe granted Dr Gandawa’s co-accused, Makute a $5000 bail and $10 000 surety to the clerk of court but his lawyer Pisirai Kwenda argued that the bail was exorbitant.
