Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – ALLEGED drug dealer, Gary Bell, was last Thursday granted US$300 bail.
Bell was granted bail by Bulawayo magistrate Mathew Mutiro after the State revised the initial charges laid against him from possession of drugs with intent to distribute to illegal possession of drugs.
The bail conditions include reporting to the police three times a week, resides at his registered address, and remains within a 40-kilometre radius of the city.
Bell through his lawyer Shepherd Chamunorwa of Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie, and Partners, argued that the new charges attract a lesser penalty of a fine or community service and therefore his continued incarceration was unwarranted.
Bell on his initial remand had strongly denied the charges, arguing that the drugs were planted on him.
Bell (42) of Burnside suburb, was apprehended by detectives from the Harare CID Drugs and Narcotics Section in an undercover operation.
Bell, who has remained in custody since his arrest, had applied for bail, arguing that his detention was unlawful and claiming that the drugs found in his possession had been planted on him.
He initially appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Shepherd Munjanja who ruled against granting bail, citing the severity of the charges and the high risk of absconding.
His trial being scheduled for March 25.
