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Investigative Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has been denied bail by Harare Magistrates Court at rotten row Thursday citing that he has a propensity to commit offences.
Chin’ono was rearrested last week on allegations of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
He is being accused of breaching his bail conditions by tweeting about the court outcome of a gold smuggling scandal despite a ban on him posting on Twitter as part of his bail conditions.
Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa Thursday denied him bail, on the basis that he “has a propensity to commit offences”.
Briefing members of the media at Rotten Row Court , Lawyer Doug Coltart said they disagree with the Magistrate ruling.
Chin’ono has not been convicted with many offences to be charged with such allegations adding that they will seek his bail application at the High Court.
“ The case that the state was relying on saying he has a propensity to commit offences is not applicable in this case its about a case of someone with multiple previous convictions and that is not the case with Hopewell Chi’nono ,so we will be filing our appeal as soon as we have the court records to the High Court.
“He does not have any previous convictions. Our Constitution guarantees the presumption of innocence,”he said.
Meanwhile, his trial on separate charge of incitement of violence will start from 7 to 9 December.
Chi’nono was initially arrested in July on charges of inciting public violence prior to the planned anti-government protests and freed on ZWL$10 000 bail in in September at this fourth attempt.
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