EMBATTLED Chillspot Records producer DJ Ribhe’s bail hearing has been postponed again to today after the State indicated that it had failed to locate the investigating officer on time.
DJ Ribhe, who has been in pre-trial custody for almost a month now, is seeking bail at the High Court.
He made his initial application last week before the hearing was postponed to yesterday before Justice Regis Dembure who had allowed the State to file its response.
However, the State yesterday applied for another postponement to today while indicating that they are still yet to locate the investigating officer.
The police officer is believed to be off duty and had travelled to his rural home.
It is the prosecution’s considered view that the investigating officer’s testimony is vital in their response that will also help the court in determining whether DJ Ribhe is suitable for bail or not.
Justice Dembure postponed the hearing to today to allow the State to file its written response and also avail the investigating officer in court.
DJ Ribhe’s lawyer, Advocate Silvester Hashiti, who is being instructed by lawyers from Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, consented to the postponement.
The Chillspot Records producer is being accused of allegedly drugging his 14-year-old Form 2 victim before raping her.
The victim, who resides in the same neighbourhood as DJ Ribhe, had met him at his home before they proceeded to Mashwede Village in the company of other people.
It is the State’s case that at Mashwede, the DJ manipulated the minor into drinking an unknown substance and smoking shisha.
Later that night, DJ Ribhe took the girl to his home where prosecutors allege he raped her.
She only regained consciousness the next day.
The State alleges that when the girl woke up, she realised that DJ Ribhe has raped her.
The girl, who had been missing from home for two days, was later located by a search party.
Upon being questioned about her whereabouts, she revealed the abuse to her father.
