Times Of Swaziland: BUSINESSMAN HELD  FOR E1.8M GOLD BAR

BUSINESSMAN HELD  FOR E1.8M GOLD BAR
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BY JABULISA DLAMINI on 04/03/2014 04:54:00


MANZINI – A businessman was arrested after he was found in possession of a
gold bar valued at E1.8 million.
Sipho Dludlu (42) of Manzini was arrested by the police last Thursday after he
was found having breakfast at the popular Mkhulu Restaurant, situated next to
Fitness Zone.
The arresting police officers are said to have ordered the businessman to open
his vehicle, which was parked at the customer parking as they had a search
warrant.
Upon searching his vehicle, the officers opened the vehicle’s cubbyhole and
found a block of gold weighing 878.4 grams inside.
The businessman was taken to the police station where he was questioned and
further arrested. Dludlu spent the night in custody and appeared at the
magistrates court the following day.
The charge sheet states that the suspect, on February 27, 2014, was found in
possession of the block of gold without a licence or permit to possess the said
gold.
It further states that the gold was found hidden inside his vehicle.
Represented
During his court appearance before Principal Magistrate David Khumalo on Friday,
the suspect was legally represented by Simo Simelane of ST Mamba Attorneys.
The attorney applied for bail on behalf of his client and informed the court
that Dludlu was not a flight risk as he was a local businessman who had
businesses around the country.
Simelane further stated that his client would surely abide by all the bail
conditions.
The Public Prosecutor, Sandile Mdluli, told the court that he did not oppose
bail, however, the affected motor vehicle had to be detained together with the
said gold at the Manzini Police Station.
The suspect was ordered to attend all remand hearings when ordered to do so and
not to commit a similar offence while out on bail. He was further informed not
to interfere with Crown witnesses.
The principal magistrate informed the court that the vehicle and gold would be
detained until the court decided otherwise.
Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Inspector Khulani Mamba confirmed the
matter.
He did not want to comment further as the matter had already been taken to
court.