Magistrate’s hooker acquitted

By Tarisai Machakaire

HARARE – A hooker, who was being charged with robbing a Gokwe magistrate following an early morning sexual romp, was on Thursday acquitted because the State could not prove its case.

The Gokwe magistrate, Shephered Munjanja, dragged the self-confessed sex worker Pamela Hamandawana to court pressing robbery charges.

He was accusing her of stealing a wallet that contained $156, bank cards, a driver’s licence, 20-litre Redan fuel coupons, a notepad and Ecocash debit card.

However, the presiding magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe said he could not buy Munjanja’s story that when he left Hamandawana’s room for the bank he failed to alert his bank’s security official or at least ask for assistance.

“His conduct was not consistent with the position that he holds of a high-ranking judicial officer. Had he wanted, the complainant could have sought assistance and raised alarm the moment he left the accused person’s lodgings,” said Chikwekwe.

“Banks are known to be high security places but the complainant decided to sneak out and found his way to the police.”

When Munjanja gave evidence he claimed that he left Gokwe with $160 and used $4 on toll gates to remain with $156 which he claimed Hamandawana later robbed him.

“The complainant said he was left without a single cent but could not give satisfactory explanations on where he later got money to pay for the taxi hired to Harare Central Police Station,” added Chikwekwe.

“Further to that the amount stolen differed as complainant claimed it was $156 and the police officer said he had reported that $150 had been stolen.”

Chikwekwe said circumstances presented a fictitious case on which a reasonable court could not act on.

“There is a discrepancy in what the complainant said against what the accused narrated. The story could have been true but the evidence leaves a lot of doubt.”

Hamandawana claimed that Munjanja was a regular client but pressed charges after failing to settle a bill for sexual indecencies.

“I told him that a blow job and sex would cost $20 and after the romp he gave me $5 and promised to go and withdraw the balance at his bank.”

“When we got to the bank he managed to escape and went to the police to report that we had robbed him. He said there were high chances that I would go to jail since he compiled the docket.”

When Munjanja took to the witness stand he denied knowing Hamandawana and claimed he was a victim of daylight robbery.

“I arrived in Harare from Gokwe around 7am in the company of my pastor and two other passengers whom I dropped in Mbare before proceeding to town. I met a young man who indicated that he had tyres that matched my vehicle.”

Munjanja told the court that he managed to escape after promising the accused persons that he would withdraw and surrender the $500 that they demanded. Daily News