Times Of Swaziland: 41 PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR DEFYING PARTIAL LOCKDOWN

41 PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR DEFYING PARTIAL LOCKDOWN
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Stanley Khumalo on 30/03/2020 08:45:00


MANZINI – At least 41 people were arrested for not adhering to the partial
lockdown over the weekend.
The police, using the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, arrested 41
delinquent people over the weekend in the four regions of the country. According
to Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile
Vilakati, the Manzini Region had the highest number as 18 people were arrested
followed by Shiselweni, where 17 had been arrested.
Admission
In the Hhohho and Lubombo Regions, three people were arrested apiece. Vilakati
said a total of 41 people were arrested by the time this report was compiled.
She said from these arrests, nine cases had the people charged with the
Coronavirus Regulations and three were arrested using the Disaster Management
Act and the rest were charged under the Liquor Act. Among those arrested,
Vilakati said some paid an admission of guilt fine, which was a charge under the
Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. The admission of guilt, according to
Vilakati, ranged between E120 and E500. “The others who did not pay the
admission of guilt fine will appear in court tomorrow (today).” She said a
majority of those arrested had failed to adhere to Section 21 of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, which was mostly failing to close at the
stipulated time frames.
Penalty
During the partial lockdown in the country, bottle stores are anticipated to
operate between 11am and 6pm while clubs and bars should be closed at all times.
On the other hand, those who did not pay the admission of guilt face a penalty
ranging between E25 000 (or spending two years in jail) and E10 000 (or being
incarcerated for a year) according to Section 33 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Regulations, 2020. Section 21 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020:
Restriction and prohibition on sale of liquor 21. (1) Liquor consumption outlets
including bars and clubs, shall cease to operate at the commencement of these
Regulations. (2) A premise which sells liquor and also operates as an
accommodation establishment shall provide adequate space and comply with all
directives and guidelines issued by the government and the World Health
Organisation in respect reducing the infecting others with Covid-19.  (3) A
bottle store may be opened and operate between 11:00am to 6:00pm from Monday to
Saturday.
Section 33 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020: Offences and
penalties  (1) A person who contravenes a provision of these regulations commits
an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding E25 000 or
to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years.  (2) A person who
intentionally gives false information about oneself or another person being
infected with COVID-19 commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a
fine not exceeding E10 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year.
(3) Any person who intentionally exposes another person to COVID-19 may be
prosecuted for an offence, including assault, attempted murder or murder.