Warrant of arrest issued for convicted High Court Judge

By Tichaona Sibanda
13 January 2006

The Zimbabwe High Court on Friday ordered the arrest of one of the country’s senior judges. He had failed to turn up at court for sentencing following his conviction earlier in the week on two counts of attempting to defeat the course of justice.

Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe issued a warrant of arrest against the fugitive Justice Benjamin Paradza when it became clear he was not at court after his name was called out three times and he did not respond.

According to ZimOnline Mutambanegwe, a former judge in Zimbabwe now serving on the Namibian Supreme Court bench and who was requested to hear Paradza’s case, immediately ordered that the warrant of arrest be faxed to all exit points.

‘A warrant of arrest is hereby immediately issued against Judge Benjamin Paradza. His bail amount is restricted or forfeited to the state provisionally in case he shows up and convinces this court on why he was not present today,” said Mutambanengwe.