Times Of Swaziland: 15-YR-OLD AMONG PRIVATE  SCHOOL ARSON SUSPECTS

15-YR-OLD AMONG PRIVATE  SCHOOL ARSON SUSPECTS
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Mbongiseni Ndzimandze on 15/06/2022 08:52:00


MBABANE - The youngest accused in the burning of property valued at close to E2
million at New Life Christian Academy is 15 years old.
The suspect is a learner in the school and was arrested together with four of
his schoolmates, who are aged 17, 18 and 19. Two of the pupils are aged 19.
According to the holding charge, the quintet stands accused of contravening the
Suppression of Terrorism Act.  They were rounded up by members of the Royal
Eswatini Police Service (REPS) on Monday at around 5pm. It has been reliably
gathered that the five pupils might be made accomplice witnesses in the matter
after they recorded statements outlining how they got involved in the burning of
the school.
“In their statements, they reportedly disclosed that they were sent to go and
burn the school by a certain individual, who had some grievances with the
management of the private school, which is situated at Mpolonjeni on the
outskirts of Mbabane,” said the impeccable source.
Confessions
The contents of the statements or confessions which were recorded by the pupils
cannot be disclosed as they are still to be presented and their veracity tested
in court. The insider said since investigations were still ongoing, the charge
might be amended to that of arson. He further pointed out that the person who
allegedly instructed the five pupils to burn the school was still at large. The
source revealed that instead of being taken to court yesterday, the five pupils
were taken to the Social Welfare Department to be interviewed or accessed by a
social worker. He said the process was provided for in Section 80 and 81 of
Children’s Protection Act No.6 of 2021, which stipulated that children who
were arrested should first be assessed. The school’s library, computer lab and
four classrooms were burnt, with the roofing collapsing in some of the affected
structures. Burnt tyre remnants were found inside some of the affected
buildings.