NEW: Law officer Bosha cleared of criminal charges

Nyore Madzianike

LAW officer Mr Arthur Bosha, has been cleared of charges of consenting to bail for armed robber Musafare Mupanhanga without consulting his bosses at the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ).

Mr Bosha was acquitted of the criminal abuse of office as a public officer by Harare Regional Magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.

He was acquitted after a prolonged trial which kick-off in 2021.

It was the State’s case that Bosha was allocated a bail application case involving suspected armed robber, Mupanhanga, by his superior, who was then the acting head of appeals, Mr Edmore Makoto.

It was alleged that Bosha unilaterally consented to granting of bail to Mupanhanga without consulting his superiors.

In consenting to bail, Bosha is said to have disregarded standard operating procedures of the Attorney General’s Office (Criminal Division), which dictate that applications and bail alterations should be done through the Area Public Prosecutor or the Public Prosecutor in Charge in consultation with the Chief Law Officer.

According to basic procedures laid down in November 16, 2020, all consents to bail by prosecutors are to be approved by their superiors.

The State alleged that Bosha showed favour to Mupanhanga, who was part of notorious gang of armed robbers led by Musa Taj Abdul.