Times Of Swaziland: JUDGE TITUS MLANGENI JAILS  BUSINESSMAN CALU 90 DAYS

JUDGE TITUS MLANGENI JAILS  BUSINESSMAN CALU 90 DAYS
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Mfanukhona Nkambule on 04/08/2024 18:52:00


MBABANE – The businessman who revealed Judge Titus Mlangeni’s alleged
conversation with a top official of the Law Society of Eswatini was last night
sent to jail.
Judge Mlangeni sentenced Issufomia Issufo Calu to 90 days (three months)
imprisonment for contempt of court. It is said that contempt of court emanated
from what the judge described as persistent defiance of the orders of the court
by Calu.
Conveying
The businessman was taken to the Mbabane Police Station, where policemen were
expected to liaise with officers from His Majesty’s Correctional Services over
the conveying of the proprietor of Ncamase Investments (Pty) Ltd to the nearest
Correctional Services facility. Ncamase Investments (Pty) Ltd, which Calu owns,
acquired Big Tree Shopping Complex, where Galp Filling Station (Big Tree) is
situated. The judge said the orders of the court interdicted the businessman
from removing assets from Galp Filling Station, Big Tree Complex in Matsapha.
Judge Mlangeni stated that the court did a site inspection yesterday and
observed that the removal of the assets was complete.
Ordered
“The national commissioner of police is hereby authorised and ordered to
arrest Mr. Calu forthwith and hand him to the nearest Correctional facility to
serve his sentence,” ruled Judge Mlangeni. Galp Filling Station, represented
by Kenneth Motsa, had filed an urgent application yesterday against PJM as first
respondent, Peter Muller and any other persons demolishing at Big Tree. The
application was also against Ncamase Investments (Pty) Ltd and Issufomia Issufo
Calu. In a telephonic interview with the Times SUNDAY, Calu said: “They are
taking me to jail. Police are outside my home waiting for me. I am in Ezulwini
now. I’m very disappointed to be treated in this fashion as an investor and
businessman. I never killed anyone.”
Logistics
His lawyers were busy last night working on logistics to file an appeal against
his sentence. In June 2024, the Times of Eswatini reported that Calu, in an
application filed at the Supreme Court, alleged that a lease agreement between
Galp and Ncamase was cancelled.He said it was cancelled because Galp allegedly
breached the lease agreement.  The businessman said Ncamase notified Galp that
it was being evicted from the complex.However, Galp challenged its eviction at
the High Court. It was reported that Ncamase allegedly proceeded to remove fuel
tanks, canopy and other assets belonging to Galp from the filling station. Galp
is said to have filed an urgent application without the knowledge (ex parte) of
Ncamase to compel it to restore the removed items. Judge Mlangeni issued an
interim order in Galp’s favour. Ncamase filed a notice of appeal.
Confirmed
Judge Mlangeni confirmed the interim order compelling Ncamase to restore the
removed items from the filling station. Galp instituted contempt proceedings
against Calu, for allegedly not complying with the order to restore. On the
other hand, Ncamase filed an application in the Supreme Court, seeking an order
to declare Judge Mlangeni’s decision to hear the matter ex parte and issue
orders pursuant to a ‘secret hearing’ as irregular, invalid and
unconstitutional, and a violation of his and the company’s right to a fair
hearing.