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Peter Matika, [email protected]

A WELL-KNOWN Bulawayo socialite, Gary Bell, has been denied bail after his arrest during a drug bust at a local leisure spot.
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, applied for bail, arguing that his detention was unlawful and claiming that the drugs found in his possession had been planted on him.

However, Bulawayo provincial magistrate Shepherd Mnjanja ruled against granting bail, citing the severity of the charges and the high risk of absconding.

“The accused is facing a serious offence which, upon conviction, carries a custodial sentence rather than a fine. The State considers him a flight risk, and the possession of dangerous substances is a grave matter. Therefore, bail is denied,” ruled the magistrate.

Bell was further remanded in custody to March 10 pending trial.
Presenting the State’s case, then prosecutor, Ms Brenda Nyoni told the court that on February 14, at around 6 am, detectives in Harare received a tip-off alleging that Bell was dealing in cocaine at The Smokehouse, a popular Bulawayo nightclub.
Following surveillance, detectives arrested Bell at midnight on February 15 as he arrived at the venue in a silver Toyota double cab (registration AFX 2911).

“The detectives identified themselves and explained their mission before conducting a search, which led to the discovery of a large plastic sachet containing four smaller sachets with a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine,” said Ms Nyoni.
Subsequent searches at Bell’s Burnside residence uncovered another sachet of a whitish substance hidden in a small blue jewellery box inside a built-in wardrobe in his bedroom.

Authorities also seized two digital weighing scales and several razor blades smeared with a similar substance.
Preliminary tests confirmed the seized substances were cocaine and ecstasy. The recovered cocaine weighed about six grammes with an estimated street value of US$480, while the ecstasy tablets were valued at US$60.

Bell, through his lawyer Mr Shepherd Chamunorwa of Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie, and Partners, strongly denied the charges, arguing that the drugs were planted.

Chamunorwa alleged that after Bell’s arrest, one of the officers commandeered his vehicle and drove it to his residence, where they conducted a search without following proper legal procedures.

“My client was intoxicated at the time of his arrest and was forced to sign a document without fully understanding its contents.
“Police also seized his two mobile phones without a warrant or his consent, which was unlawful,” argued Chamunorwa.
Bell’s lawyer maintains that the arrest was mishandled and vowed to challenge the case in court.