Times Of Swaziland: LISWATI MAID STEALS E161K FROM SOUTH AFRICA EMPLOYER

LISWATI MAID STEALS E161K FROM SOUTH AFRICA EMPLOYER
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Phiwase Phungwayo on 19/02/2024 08:45:00


MANZINI – A 48-year-old liSwati woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison or
an option to pay a fine of E10 000 for stealing US$8 500 from her employer, a
prominent golf estate in South Africa.
Dumisile Dlamini of Mankayane, who was employed as domestic worker, appeared
before Manzini Principal Magistrate Florence Msibi on Friday, charged with
theft. She claimed that she stole the about E161 000 to pay for her
wheelchair-bound daughter’s hospital bills in Durban. The accused is said to
have committed the offence on February 13, 2024, at Blue Valley Golf Estate, in
the Republic of South Africa. According to the charge sheet, the accused
wrongfully, unlawfully and intentionally stole money in cash amounting to US$8
500, the property in the lawful possession of Lindelwa Ndlovu.
Guilty
Dlamini pleaded guilty to the charge. Before the resumption of the trial, it was
brought to the court’s attention that about US$3 800 of the money that Dlamini
had stolen was recovered from her. During mitigation, the accused appealed for a
lenient sentence, stating that she was forced by circumstances to commit the
offence. She claimed that she needed the money to take her child for specialised
treatment in Durban. In addition, Dlamini added that she had three school-going
children, one of whom was wheelchair-bound. “I am sorry Your Worship, I was
compelled by my child’s injury on the spinal chord, which required an
operation,” she mitigated. The accused added that she was currently unemployed
as she was dismissed from  her workplace, at Blue Valley Golf Estate. Principal
Magistrate Msibi sentenced Dlamini to 10 years imprisonment with an option of
paying a fine of E10 000. She also ordered that the recovered money should be
returned to the owner by the police.