DPP to decide on charges

MBABANE – The office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) will decide if the people who are being accused of allegedly ill-treating and  forcing contestants of local beauty pageants into sexual escapades with potential sponsors are charged or not.

Police were roped into the matter involving the contestants who took part in the pageant which is known by the Entertainment Desk but cannot be revealed as no charges have been laid against them at the moment.
At least three affected contestants have already filed their complaints with the police who are currently investigating the matter.
The matter is being handled by the Manzini police under the Domestic Violence Department.

The decision to involve police was taken after some of the contestants allegedly revealed how they were abused.
The allegations are reflected in a document that was compiled after some of the contestants complained on how their lives had been changed following the experiences they went through at the hands of the organisers.
Currently there is no one who has been charged and the matter is still under investigation and the complainants are still busy with the recording of their statements.

Inspector Khulekani Mamba, Police Deputy Public Relations Officer said once the investigation has been concluded, the file would be taken to the DPP’s Office where the decision to continue with the prosecution would be taken.
“At the moment, we are still busy recording statements from the alleged abusers. Once we are done, the file will be closed and thereafter taken to the DPP’s office. It is where the decision to prosecute the matter would be taken,” he said.

Mamba said they had not yet closed the investigation process as some victims were still visiting the police station.
“The investigation is still going on and I can confirm that some of the contestants have already come to the police station to record statements. We are hoping to finalise the investigation so that the process would continue as soon as possible,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: