Journalist Nqobani Ndlovu is likely to continue languishing in remand prison after the State on 22 November 2010 invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA) effectively quashing the US$100 bail granted by Bulawayo Magistrate Sibongile Msipa.The effect of invoking section 121 of the CPEA is to effectively suspend Ndlovus admission to bail pending an appeal in the High Court. He could thus be in remand prison for a maximum seven days pending the hearing of the appeal.
Ndlovu, a reporter with the privately owned Standard weekly newspaper, was arrested in connection with a story alleging the cancellation of police promotional examinations.
Background
He was initially being charged with contravening Section 96 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. However, he now faces an additional charge in terms of Section 31 of the same Act.
The charges arise from a story written by Ndlovu in the Standard of 14 November 2010 alleging that police promotional examinations were being scrapped to facilitate the absorption of war veterans and retired police officers in the police force ahead of the 2011 elections.
Post published in: News