Former Zimbabwe batsman bailed, arson trial date set

HARARE, Nov 3 (Reuters) A Zimbabwe court granted bail to former test batsman Mark Vermeulen on charges of arson today and his trial is expected to start on November 14.

Vermeulen's charges follow fires at the Zimbabwe cricket academy and at Harare Sports Club (HSC). Prosecutors say he was seen leaving the scene of the blaze at the academy late on Tuesday. Police took him in for questioning on Wednesday.

If convicted, Vermeulen faces up to 25 years in jail.

The academy, housed in a purpose-built thatched building, was badly damaged in the blaze.

Defence lawyer David Dhumbura told the court police had taken Vermeulen to the crime scene and recorded his account of what had happened, in the absence of his lawyers.

The recordings would be produced in court as part of the prosecution's case outline. The defence said it would ask the court to declare the video and audio recordings inadmissible.

Vermeulen, who was not asked to plead, was asked by the magistrate to surrender Z500,000 dollars (2,000 dollars) cash, title deeds worth Z300 million dollars and his travel documents to the court as part of the bail conditions.

Prosecutors had opposed bail saying Vermeulen was likely to abscond. ''I am satisfied that the accused is a suitable candidate for bail,'' magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe said.

Vermeulen, 27, played eight tests and 32 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe.

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