Times Of Swaziland: RAPE SUSPECT ARRESTED AT JUDGE’S HOME

RAPE SUSPECT ARRESTED AT JUDGE’S HOME
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BY VUYILE DLAMINI on 27/04/2021 08:16:00


MANZINI – Dramatic!
Almost four days after a court order for his arrest was issued, Sibusiso
Vilakati was apprehended during a joint operation at Judge Sipho Nkosi’s home
at Mafutseni yesterday. His arrest was, however, not without drama.
In the early hours of yesterday, Vilakati attempted to flee from about five male
officers, who had arrived at Judge Nkosi’s private residence to apprehend him,
as per the court order issued last Friday. When the officers from the Hhohho
Serious Crimes Unit, in a joint operation with colleagues under the Criminal
Investigations Department (CID) at Mafutseni, arrived at the judge’s private
residence, security officers posted at the residence refused to allow them
entry, despite that the officers were armed with a court order.
Premises
It was reliably gathered that the security officers were informed to make a
phone call when any police vehicles approached the premises. However, when the
judge was informed that there were police officers tasked with effecting a court
order, he came out of his house and addressed the officers, and subsequently
allowed them into the premises. Shortly after that, Vilakati bolted out of the
house and headed towards a fence on the south side of the house. The officers
took chase as he ran towards the gate situated in the north. He continued
running in different directions and the officers closed in until they
apprehended him at the corner of the fence. Two of the officers held him with
his hands behind his back and walked with him towards a police vehicle.
However, upon seeing that Vilakati was being apprehended, a female started
screaming at the police officers, demanding that her brother not be handcuffed.
The judge did not state his relationship with the woman but only described her
as ‘Make wakakhe’. This she was said to have done while officers warned they
would apprehend her as well, if she obstructed the apprehension of her brother.
As the police put Vilakati into the police vehicle, the judge was seen going to
the house after which he returned with a black sports bag believed to be
containing Vilakati’s clothes. One of the officers asked to search the bag and
as he searched it, some items were visible including a toothbrush. The officer
then closed the bag and the police vehicle drove off. Vilakati was taken into
the custody of officers from the Mafutseni Police Station, who handed him over
to officers at the Pigg’s Peak Police Station.