By Court Correspondent
The High Court has granted 22-year-old Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika US$5,000 bail pending trial, overturning an earlier decision to keep her in custody over money-laundering allegations.
The ruling follows her prolonged detention after she was arrested on drug-related charges before being re-arrested in connection with a separate money-laundering case.
Harare Regional Magistrate Francis Mapfumo then denied Tafirenyika bail after finding that she posed a flight risk, citing the financial resources allegedly at her disposal.
Tafirenyika was initially arrested on August 4, 2026, after detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit raided her home in Greystone Park.
She was charged with allegedly possessing pethidine, morphine and unregistered medicines.
The High Court subsequently granted her US$1,000 bail on August 20 in connection with the drug-related charges.
However, she was immediately re-arrested on separate money-laundering allegations.
The State alleges that Tafirenyika acquired 22 luxury properties and vehicles worth more than US$9.3 million using proceeds allegedly generated from drug-related activities.
Her lawyers challenged the State’s opposition to bail, disputing the claim that she was a flight risk.
They also argued that the assets cited by prosecutors were lawful matrimonial acquisitions rather than proceeds of criminal activity.
The defence successfully appealed the magistrate’s decision, with the High Court ordering Tafirenyika’s release on stringent conditions pending trial.
Under the order, Tafirenyika must pay US$5,000 to the Clerk of Court at the Harare Magistrates Court.
She must also continue residing at 4 Edgehill Close, Greystone Park, Harare, until the matter is finalised.
The court further ordered her not to interfere with investigations and directed her to report twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, at Borrowdale Police Station between 6am and 6pm.
She was also ordered to surrender her passport to the Clerk of Court at the Harare Magistrates Court.
Tafirenyika is represented by lawyers Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, together with Tiriwamambo Kangai of Venturas and Samukange Legal Practitioners.
This is a developing story……..
