Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin鈥檕no. Image: AFP/Jekesai Njikizana
Award-winning Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin鈥檕no was charged on Friday with obstructing justice and ordered held in a maximum security prison.
Chin鈥檕no is accused of breaching his bail conditions by tweeting about the court outcome of a gold smuggling scandal despite a ban on him posting on Twitter.
He had initially been arrested in July on charges of inciting public violence ahead of planned anti-government protests but was freed in September on bail.
The 49-year-old, who was arrested again on Tuesday, arrived at the Harare magistrate鈥檚 court in leg irons and handcuffs, where he was charged with obstructing justice and contempt of court over the tweet.
His latest detention is linked to the arrest of Zimbabwe Miners Federation head Henrietta Rushwaya at Harare Airport on Oct. 26 as she was about to board a flight to Dubai with six kilos (13 pounds) of gold in her hand luggage.
In a tweet Chin鈥檕no said he had talked to prosecutors about Rushwaya, an act which the state said had jeopardized 鈥渢he integrity of the case against himself and that of Rushwaya.鈥�
Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa ordered that Chin鈥檕no be detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, which houses convicted criminals on death row or serving life terms.
His legal team said his case should not be heard by a Special Anti-Corruption Court as it did not involve graft, and said the new detention conditions threatened their client鈥檚 welfare.
鈥淲hy is he being kept together with most dangerous criminals in D Section when he is not a dangerous criminal?鈥� lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa asked. 鈥淲hy is he being brought to court in leg irons and hand cuffs yet he should be at remand prison?鈥�
Chin鈥檕no had initially been detained for 45 days for 鈥渋nciting public violence鈥� ahead of planned demonstrations against corruption and deteriorating living standards that were thwarted by a heavy deployment of police and soldiers.
Praised for his investigative journalism, he helped expose a multimillion-dollar scandal involving the procurement of coronavirus supplies in May.
He is scheduled to be back in court Monday, when he is expected to apply for bail. JB
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