American charged with subversion in Zimbabwe freed ‘for now’
HARARE, Zimbabwe — A Zimbabwean court on Thursday freed “for now” an American woman charged with subversion for allegedly describing the former president on Twitter as a “sick man.”
Martha O’Donovan, who grew up in New Jersey, had faced up to 20 years in prison. A magistrate removed her from remand after prosecutors failed to provide a trial date, freeing her from the charges but only temporarily.
O’Donovan’s lawyer Obey Shava told The Associated Press she can still be summoned back to court if the prosecution feels it has more evidence against her. But she can get her passport back.
“It all depends on what they gather but for now the case has crumbled. She is free for now,” said Shava with the organization Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.