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Corrupt Zim judge convicted
10/01/2006 22:37 - (SA)
Harare - A senior judge was on Tuesday convicted on two counts of corruption for trying to intervene in the murder case of a friend and business partner, in one of Zimbabwe's most high-profile cases.
Justice Benjamin Paradza of the high court, who was arrested in February 2003, became the first judge to be convicted in Zimbabwe.
"The accused is guilty of the two main counts (of breaching the Prevention of Corruption Act)," high court Judge Simpson Mutambanengwe said.
Paradza was accused of trying to influence his fellow judges in 2003 to release the French passport of Russel Wayne Labuschagne who was awaiting trial for the murder of a fisherman caught poaching.
Paradza allegedly told a fellow judge involved in Labuschagne's case that he stood to lose money if his business partner was unable to travel to Europe. Labuschagne was later sentenced to 15 years in jail for the murder.
"The court found the accused's story that he never asked his fellow judges to release the passport to be untrue beyond reasonable doubt," Mutambanengwe said.
"The mere act by a judge to approach another judge explaining how he stands to lose if a matter is determined in a particular way is more or less to ask the other judge to act in a manner which is inconsistent with his duties."
Paradza was, however, cleared of charges of attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
The high court judge had pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was targeted for delivering judgments that were not in favor of President Robert Mugabe's government.
Paradza had notably ruled in February 2002 that eviction orders served on 50 white farmers were illegal and in January 2003 ordered the release of the opposition mayor for Harare following his arrest for meeting citizens without police permission.
Mugabe set up an international tribunal two years ago with judges from Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi to investigate Paradza. Defence lawyers sought to have the tribunal ruled null and void but the high court dismissed the request last year.
Justice Mutambanengwe, who now lives in Namibia, was recalled to hear Paradza's case after fellow high court judges refused to try him.
Paradza could face up to three years in jail for the corruption conviction or pay a fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday.
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
