HARARE – High Court judge Justice Gibson Mandaza has granted US$3 000 bail to Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder and Yadah FC owner, Walter Magaya, who is facing fraud and rape charges.
Magaya had been remanded in custody after Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa denied him bail last week, ruling that his alleged over-detention did not affect the decision.
Through his lawyers, Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza, Magaya later applied for bail at the High Court, opting not to pursue the matter further in the Magistrates’ Court.
His co-accused, wife Tendai Magaya, was earlier released on US$500 bail after the magistrate found no compelling reason to keep her in custody.
The court ruled that despite the seriousness of the allegations, the State had failed to prove she was a flight risk, noting that she had remained in the country throughout the investigation period.
Magaya and his wife, together with their company Planet Africa, are jointly charged with multiple counts of fraud.
In a related case, Magaya’s bodyguard, Tapiwa Felix Chikondo, was also granted US$300 bail.
Chikondo faces charges of obstructing justice and alternatively assaulting or resisting a police officer after allegedly confronting law enforcement agents during Magaya’s arrest at his Waterfalls prayer mountain.
Interestingly, investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono on Monday hinted that Magaya’s financial muscle would see him being released this week.
“Can I prophesy? The fake prophet Walter Magaya will be out of jail this week. Money talks in country X,” Chin’ono wrote on social media.
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