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JAILED diamond dealer Newman Chiadzwa’s bid for freedom failed after the High Court dismissed his application for bail pending appeal.

Justice Bharat Patel upheld the State’s submissions that there was a likelihood that Chiadzwa could abscond should he be released on bail.

It was noted that the diamond dealer had vast properties inside and outside Zimbabwe and the offer of two houses as surety might not tie him down, as they were just an "inch in a mile".

"The application for bail pending appeal is dismissed," said Justice Patel in his judgment made last Friday.

Magistrate William Billa, sitting at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts, last year slapped Chiadzwa with an effective five-year jail term and a US$132 000 fine after convicting him of illegal possession of 8kg of diamonds. The State, led by principal law officer, Mr Albert Masamha submitted that Chiadzwa’s offer of houses in Warren Park and Bluff Hill were too little surety compared to his wealth.

A real estate agent valued the Bluff Hill house at US$110 000 while the Warren Park property was estimated to be worth US$25 000.

The court upheld the State’s argument that while the sentence might be reduced on appeal, the custodial sentence might still be retained.

In his application for bail pending appeal, Chiadzwa’s lawyer Mr Innocent Gonese submitted there were bright prospects of success on appeal against sentence.