Times Of Swaziland: US CHARGED WITH FORGERY

US CHARGED WITH FORGERY
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Stanley Khumalo on 27/12/2023 09:28:00


MANZINI – A senior government official, who holds the rank of under secretary
(US), was last week arrested by the police under the Commercial Crimes and Fraud
Department.
The US, whose name is known to this publication, was arrested following an
investigation by the police on allegations of playing a role in arranging an
unauthorised trip to the United States of America. During this unauthorised
arrangement, it was alleged that the US forged the signature of the under
secretary in the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Office. The trip, which was
scheduled for February 18, 2023, was to be undertaken by a social worker
employed under the DPM’s Office, which houses the country’s Social Welfare
Department. This publication gathered that the arrest and subsequent appearance
of the US was kept under wraps as she appeared in the chambers of a magistrate
at the Mbabane Magistrates Court, where she was released on her own
recognisance. Her next court appearance is on January 15, 2024.
Appearance
In verifying the appearance of the senior government official at the Mbabane
Magistrates Court, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer,
Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, was sought to confirm the arrest and
she said: “The matter is now with the Judiciary as the person you are
referring to appeared before court.” Meanwhile, on February 19, 2023, the
Times SUNDAY reported that the US (name withheld) was alleged to have forged the
signature of the US in the DPM’s Office when writing a memo to the Ministry of
Home Affairs, confirming that the social worker had been officially assigned to
embark on the overseas trip.
The memo was said to have accompanied an application by the social worker to be
granted an international passport. A woman, from the United Sates, who is in
Eswatini on a visitor’s visa, was also found to be involved in the planned
travel. All three people, at the time, were planning to take an unidentified
minor child to the United States, where they claimed the toddler was to undergo
a skin grafting surgery. They reportedly claimed that a US-based entertainment
industry non-profit organisation, known as The Stars Foundation, which advocates
for underprivileged children and youth of the world, was going to fund the
child’s surgery.