Times Of Swaziland: RISKY TO GIVE SWAPA BOSS BAIL - CROWN

RISKY TO GIVE SWAPA BOSS BAIL - CROWN
================================================================================
BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE  on 04/04/2017 01:14:00


MBABANE –  The Crown contends that releasing SWAPA President Mduduzi Bhembe
and lawyer Sanele Mabila from custody will cause a sense of shock and outrage in
the community and society at large.
It is alleged that the outrage might lead to public disorder and the members of
the public would never have confidence in the country’s criminal justice
system.
According to the Crown, the smuggled person’s family members were still
aggrieved by Bhembe’s alleged actions.
Bhembe was further described as a flight risk as he had relatives at Jozini in
South Africa.
The arrest of the two came about after the police made a link in the story of
the Swazi man who was sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa with the
suspended Mbekelweni head teacher. Bhembe is alleged to have smuggled the man,
who was handed down two life sentences by the South African courts for
trafficking three minors and a rape case. He was arrested by members of the
Serious Crimes Unit (LUKHOZI) with his attorney, Mabila.
The Serious Crimes Unit, which had been working hand in hand with the Hawks in
South Africa in this case, apprehended Bhembe at his home in Siphofaneni. The
duo, in Bhembe and lawyer Mabila, want to be released on bail but the Crown,
which is represented by Beauty Fakudze, is vigorously opposing their
applications.
In his opposing papers, Inspector Bhekani Shiba stated that once released on
bail, Bhembe might interfere with or intimidate State witnesses and he was
arrested and charged, among other things, for the same reason; interfering with
a State witness. “May I further State that the person so smuggled is a State
witness in the charges faced by both accused persons (Bhembe and Mabila) as well
as malpractice occasioned at Mbekelweni High School where he was a security
officer,” submitted Inspector Shiba.