Drama as magistrate shoots down attempts to stall trial

HARARE magistrate, Tendai Mahwe, yesterday shot down several attempts to stall the trial of a Russian man, who allegedly obtained a Zimbabwean passport using forged documents.

Mahwe, who is now based at Mutare Magistrates’ Court, made the ruling when he returned to Harare for the case involving Steven Paul Sudgen.

Sudgen, through his lawyer Admire Rubaya, initially sought to be removed from further remand arguing that the two-month ultimatum given by Judge President Justice George Chiweshe for the State to re-open its case had lapsed.

This story is for NewsDay subscribers.