COPS BUST MANZINI PIRACY SYNDICATE

MBABANE – Police have busted a syndicate that deals with duplicating CDs and DVDs of different artists and selling them to the public at a low cost.

The syndicate of three men who operated in one of the offices at the Enterprise Building in Manzini was busted late last month by the Manzini Police.
During the arrest, police seized equipment worth E30 000 which was being used by the syndicate to duplicate the CDs and DVDs.
Some of the equipment that was taken by the police to be part of the exhibits included laptops, empty CDs and DVDs plus CD writers and recorders.

Charged

They further arrested the suspects and charged them for duplicating work that did not belong to them.
Information gathered is that after the duplication, the CDs were sold to the public for as little as E10 while DVDs were sold for E30.
Some of the artists that had their work being duplicated included the likes of Frans Dlamini, Shongwe and Khuphuka, Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors, Mduduzi Nezinceku Zamagawugawu, Nduduzo Matse and Phatwakahle.

Also being duplicated was music of artists from South Africa and these include Sipho Makhabane, Zahara and Soul Brothers.
Information gathered is that most people who were buying the face CDs and DVDs were buying gospel music.
Alerting the police about the syndicate was gospel artist and Nhlambeni Member of Parliament Frans Dlamini who was informed by one of his followers that his music was being duplicated.
On this particular day, a gospel music lover went to the office where the music was being duplicated asked that he be sold Frans’ latest album titled ‘Yala Nami Nkhosi’.

Duplication

As the duplication was still being done one of Frans’ fans who happened to have gone to the office for other services then called him, telling him that his music was being duplicated.
It is then that Dlamini called the police and informed them that there were certain people who were suspected to be involved in piracy.
The police acted promptly as they proceeded to the building where they found the men duplicating music for their clients.
They were then arrested and charged after undergoing questioning from the police.

Frans confirmed the matter saying after receiving a call from one of his fans, he then asked the police to investigate the matter.
“I must thank the police especially the National Commissioner, Isaac Magagula who is trying all means to stop piracy in the country.
“After I called the police, they proceeded to the office and were able to get some of the equipment that was used for the duplication,” he said.
He said he was informed that there were suspects who were arrested and charged for duplicating work that never belonged to them. 

Seized

Superintendent Wendy Hleta, Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), also confirmed the arrest saying when the police proceeded to the site where it was alleged that the work by some of the artists was being duplicated, they discovered that there were machines that were used for the duplication which were seized.

“During the investigation, there were suspects who were arrested and they have already appeared before courts.
“As the investigation continued, some of the equipment was taken but after the cases had been finalised, the owners of the equipment went back to court and asked that the equipment be given back to them,” she said.

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