A WARRANT of arrest was yesterday issued against former Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) activist Paul Siwela facing a treason charge for advocating the violent overthrow of the government after he twice failed to attend the determination of his application for discharge at the Bulawayo High Court. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Siwela is suspected to have skipped the country ahead of the determination this week.
He was supposed to have appeared together with his co-accused Charles Thomas and John Gazi before judge Justice Nicholas Ndou on Wednesday and yesterday, but he was nowhere in sight.
The State, represented by Lovack Masuku and Samuel Pedzisai, unveiled a letter allegedly written by Siwela which they said they got from one of Siwela’s lawyers Sindiso Mazibisa.
“I received correspondence from Mazibisa written by accused three (Siwela). It appears he has gone out of the country,” Masuku told the court.
In his ruling Justice Ndou ordered that a warrant of arrest be issued against Siwela.
Justice Ndou also dismissed an application for discharge by Thomas saying since he was found in possession of subversive flyers, there were no clear reasons why he should not be placed on defence to prove his case.
“Application for discharge by accused one (Thomas) is dismissed and he must come back for his defence case on January 7, 2014,” Justice Ndou said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Justice Ndou acquitted Gazi saying evidence brought to court did not link him in any way with the distribution of the said subversive flyers and there were a lot of contradictions in evidence brought to court against him by the witnesses.
Twitter feedback @silasnkala
