Times Of Swaziland: ‘MALUME’ HELD FOR MOLESTING PUPIL A MARRIED PASTOR

‘MALUME’ HELD FOR MOLESTING PUPIL A MARRIED PASTOR
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Sibusiso Shange on 10/10/2024 07:58:00


MBABANE - The driver (malume) who stands accused of sexually violating an
11-year-old pupil, while taking her home from school, is a married pastor.
Bongie Phiri (40) of Corporation intends to plead guilty to the charge. He has
been charged for contravening Section 36 (1) (a) as read with section 36 (1) (a)
(i) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018. It is alleged that
he kissed and further touched the minor inappropriately, after having dropped
the other pupils off at their various places of residence. If convicted of the
offence, Phiri’s particulars will be included in the national register for sex
offenders. When informed of his right to legal representation, Phiri elected to
conduct his own defence. Asked how he intends to plead to the charge, the pastor
said he would plead guilty if he knew the content of the allegations levelled
against him.
opportunity
“Thank you for the opportunity; I am committed to telling the court the truth.
However, part of the allegation is not true,” he said after the charge was
read to him. He told the court that he would plead guilty when the court
confirmed his plea for the record. The Crown applied that he be remanded in
custody until October 17, 2024, pending his trial on November 5, 2024.
The court told Phiri that the nature of the offence he was accused of required
that he be removed from children, pending finalisation of the matter. However,
Phiri was quick to apply for bail. He told the court that his family is firmly
rooted in Eswatini and that he has no relatives outside the country. He
undertook to avail himself whenever ordered to do so. “I have been
transporting children for 10 years and I have never been accused of any offence
involving children. “My incarceration will have a negative impact on my
business, which is my only source of income. There are children who I have to
transport to school,” said. “If I admit the offence as it is, how far will
the court go in exercising its leniency on me? I am the sole breadwinner and I
have children who solely depend on me.
wrong
“If you admit to your wrong, the court is expected to exercise leniency on you
and ensure that you are corrected. I will not evade trial,” he said. In
response, Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi said it would be prudent
to refer the matter to the Children’s Unit under the Deputy Prime Minister’s
Office for further investigations. Nhlabatsi granted Phiri bail fixed at E5 000,
on condition that he does not transport children to school in his motor vehicle.
The court ordered Phiri to instead hire a driver to transport the children to
school, pending finalisation of the matter. The court ordered the Crown and the
Social Welfare Department to ensure that Phiri does not transport children to
school pending finalisation of the matter.
He was further warned against engaging the minor’s family or the school
administration for an out-of-court settlement, while the matter is still pending
in court.