A judge in Zimbabwe has been arrested in the eastern town of Mutare for granting bail to a top aide of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a lawyer said on Friday. Magistrate Livingstone Chipadze on Wednesday had ordered the release of Roy Bennett, a deputy minister-designate from Tsvangirai's party, in line with a high court ruling. Bennett was arrested last month. His order was later suspended after prosecutors appealed the bail decision to the Supreme Court, which is still considering the case.| Chipadze is accused of criminal abuse of authority "for ordering the release of Bennett after he was granted bail by the high court," Maanda said. |
Bennett, who was picked by Tsvangirai for the post of deputy agriculture minister, was arrested on February 13 as the new Cabinet was about to be sworn in for Zimbabwe's power-sharing government. He was accused of possessing arms for the purposes of banditry, terrorism and sabotage but was granted bail of $2 000 by the high court last week. However, he has remained in custody as prosecutors mounted a series of appeals, finally turning to the nation's highest court on Wednesday to keep him locked up.