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Fungai Jachi Court Reporter
A MBARE “bouncer” who allegedly assaulted a police officer on duty at Mbare Musika Bus Terminus last Wednesday, appeared before a Mbare magistrate on Saturday charged with assault or resisting a peace officer.

Shingirai Gwenzi (36), however, denied the allegations when he appeared before magistrate Ms Kudzai Zihove.

Ms Zihove remanded him in custody to July 13 for trial.

The prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe opposed bail arguing that Gwenzi was facing a very serious offence and was a flight risk.

“The accused is facing a serious offence.

“He assaulted a police officer who was adorned in his uniform in a public place,” he said.

He also said that Gwenzi might face a custodial sentence upon conviction and it could make him flee if freed.

In response, Gwenzi’s lawyer Mr John Ndomene of Thondlanga and Associates argued that the State had no grounds of denying his client bail.

“The seriousness of an offence alone is not a valid ground to deny the accused bail. He will not abscond as he is a family man and is of fixed aboard,” he said.

Ms Zihove dismissed the bail application saying the State had managed to convince the court that Gwenzi was a flight risk.

“As it stands, there is overwhelming evidence against the accused and he might fail to stand trial if admitted to bail,” she said.

Allegations are that on June 25 at Mbare Musika Bus Terminus, Gwenzi head-butted a police officer who was restraining him from harassing passengers. The police officer managed to arrest Gwenzi with the help of members of the public.