‘BONKAS’ HELD FOR E0.5M SRA FRAUD

MBABANE – Mbabane socialite Bonginkhosi ‘Bonkas’ Dlamini has been arrested for alleged fraud.

Dlamini, who is a former employee of Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA), is alleged to have defrauded the organisation a sum of E504 868.99.
When he applied for the job in the organisation, he allegedly presented a fraudulent Bachelor of Commerce Degree Certificate in Marketing, purportedly obtained from Midrand Graduate Institute. He is alleged to have committed the offence between April 1, 2013 and November 20, 2015.
Dlamini of Thembelihle in Mbabane, was arrested at Ngwenya Border Gate on Tuesday while on his way to the Republic of South Africa.

Misrepresentation

Through the alleged misrepresentation, Dlamini is said to have obtained employment as a tax officer and induced SRA to its actual loss and prejudice of E504 869.99 in the form of salaries.
According to the charge sheet, when Dlamini made the aforesaid misrepresentation at SRA, he well knew that the said certificate was not authentic, as he never obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree at Midrand Graduate Institute.

The accused yesterday moved an application for bail at the High Court where he denied to have committed the offence.
He informed the court that on or about June 25, 2019, he was arrested by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service while on his way to the neighbouring country. 

Dlamini said he was subsequently charged with fraud.
“I was then formally charged and thereafter produced before a magistrate by the prosecution where I was remanded in custody pending committal to the High Court,” submitted Dlamini.

He averred that during investigations, he was cooperative with the police officers.
Dlamini said; “The police officers just pounced on me while I was to get a stamp duty to allow me to cross over to the Republic of South Africa.”

He went on to tell the court that he had a bona fide defence, more so because the amount mentioned was just an alleged amount and there was allegedly no paper trail reflecting same.

Bail

The accused submitted that he was desirous to be admitted to bail on such conditions as the High Court might deem fit.
He said in the event he was admitted to bail, he would abide by all the conditions to be imposed upon him.
Dlamini further pointed out that he had been advised and verily believed that if he breached any terms of the bail conditions, he risked having his bail bond forfeited to the State and be kept in custody until the day of trial and its conclusion.

“I submit that my continued incarceration is highly prejudicial to me as I have a family to take care of. I am also a sickly person. I have weak bone tissues, as it is winter and I do not believe I can be able to be incarcerated due to pains,” he argued

In motivating his application for bail, Dlamini further told the court that he also suffered from extreme hypertension and was diabetic. He said he needed constant medical attention, which at times included selected and prescribed medication, which could not be readily available while he was incarcerated.
“I state that the aforementioned exceptional circumstances warrant my release from custody and also the presumption of innocence,” he argued.
He claimed that he was self-employed and had a minor who was solely dependent on him.

Dlamini informed the court that his continued incarceration would greatly affect his child because his (Dlamini) business was the only source of income.
He contended that he was not a flight risk and that he did not have any other business interest outside the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Prejudicial

“If released on bail, I shall not in any manner whatsoever try to defeat the ends of justice or demean myself in any way that would be prejudicial to the interest of justice. I will not interfere with the Crown’s witnesses or police investigations as I am advised that I will be re- arrested and forfeit the bail bond,” argued Dlamini.
He also undertook that if admitted to bail, he would reside in Mbabane until the finalisation of his case.

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