By A Correspondent| Harare Magistrate Stanford Mambanje has granted the application for removal from further remand of Harare businessman O Sivan who had numerous allegations lodged against him.
In his ruling, Mambanje said the state failed to justify its application for further remand.
“The state has not justified further remand, therefore further remand is refused,” said Mambanje.
State Prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi had pleaded with the court for further remand of the accused person to allow for further investigations although when the accused appeared in court on the 28th of July, the state had confirmed that investigations were complete.
It was also stated at the last appearance that the state’s intention was to withdraw the charges, and were only waiting on a final confirmation of this recommendation from the head office of the National Prosecuting Authority.
Mabhaudhi said the state is ceased with the matter and is aware of the hardships the accused persons are facing in regularly appearing in court.
The state conceded that the complainant in this matter, Gilad Shabtai is a fugitive of justice and currently out of the country, and as confirmed by the state previously has a pending warrant of arrest against him.
In opposing the application, Sivan and Myburg’s lawyer Jacqueline Sande said there was no need for further remand as the state had indicated on three previous occasions that investigations were complete and the recommendation was made to withdraw all charges.
Complainant Gilad Shabtai’s lawyer, Admire Rubaya was also in attendance.
Gilad Shabtai is also under investigation for misleading President Emmerson Mnangagwa by attempting to portray himself an a new investor yet he has been in and out of the country for the past 11 years with numerous assets attained by himself and companies linked to him.
He has numerous criminal charges against him in which he has failed to avail himself to authorities to answer to these allegations for over a year, but has used the excuse of medical reasons for fleeing.