Bail bid CRUSHED: Dyonne and mum remanded in custody until September 3
By The Day Star
A dramatic bail bid by Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika and her mother has been crushed, with the pair ordered to remain behind bars until September 3 as they face drug-related charges.
Tafirenyika, 28, and her mother, Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab, 47, were denied bail by a Bulawayo magistrate on Monday, alongside their relative Noreen Jessub, 52.
The ruling means the three women will remain in custody following their dramatic arrest at a Bulawayo lodge last Wednesday.
The State alleges police swooped on the trio at the Ilanda-area lodge just hours before they were due to board a private jet reportedly chartered from the United Arab Emirates at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
Tafirenyika is the sister of Kelsea Tafirenyika, the second wife of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son, Collins Mnangagwa.
Arab is Kelsea’s mother.
The prosecution opposed bail, with investigating officer Phillimon Gumberu telling the court that the State had what he described as “overwhelming evidence” and portraying the accused as flight risks allegedly linked to a criminal enterprise.
Police allegedly recovered drugs during searches of the women’s rooms.
Two sachets of cocaine, valued at ZiG9,000, were allegedly discovered hidden inside a shoe in Jessub’s room, while two additional sachets were allegedly found in Arab’s room.
In Tafirenyika’s room, officers allegedly recovered a sachet of crystal methamphetamine, another sachet of cocaine and US$53,055 in cash.
Prosecutors have previously described the money in court papers as suspected proceeds of crime.
But the defence mounted a strong challenge, arguing that the women were suitable candidates for bail because they had surrendered their passports and investigators had already collected the relevant evidence.
The defence has also previously suggested that the drugs could have been planted and questioned the involvement of multiple security agencies.
The magistrate was not persuaded.
The three women will now remain in State custody until their next court appearance on September 3.
The latest development deepens the legal turmoil surrounding Kelsea Tafirenyika’s extended family.
Kelsea is herself facing separate high-profile money-laundering allegations in Harare, where prosecutors allege that she built a multi-million-dollar property and luxury vehicle empire using proceeds allegedly linked to illicit drug sales.
All the allegations remain before the courts, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.