A Bulawayo provincial magistrate has been sentenced to an effective 18 months in prison after unlawfully ordering the release of a remand prisoner from Khami Remand Prison without legal authority.
Evia Matura (47), who was stationed at Tredgold Magistrates’ Court, was convicted of criminal abuse of duty following a trial at the same court.
She was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, with six months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective custodial sentence of 18 months.
The State’s case stemmed from events that occurred between late June and early July 2025.
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According to court proceedings, Matura presided over a bail application for Obert Manduna on June 23, 2025, and denied him bail on June 25, ordering that he remain in custody at Khami Remand Prison.
On July 2, 2025, Manduna appeared in court for a routine remand hearing where both the State and defence consented to a postponement of the matter to July 9, 2025 for trial allocation.
The court heard that no fresh bail application based on changed circumstances had been made, and there was no High Court directive authorising the accused’s release.
Despite this, Matura unlawfully ordered Manduna’s release from custody.
The State argued that her actions were deliberate and inconsistent with her judicial duties. The court found that the decision conferred an undue benefit on the accused and undermined the integrity of judicial processes.
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