ALL ALLEGED LOOTERS’ BAIL OPPOSED AT HIGH COURT

MBABANE - All bail applications filed by the alleged looters at the High Court yesterday were opposed by the prosecution.

The High Court was yesterday flooded with a litany of bail applications from some of those who were arrested in Manzini and surrounding areas. They alleged that the reason they decided to approach the High Court was because at the magistrates court, the judicial officer did not give them an opportunity to apply for bail. Instead, the alleged looters claimed that the magistrate simply advised them that they could apply for bail during their next court appearance and remanded them back in custody. Some have been languishing in jail for over seven days. According to the charge sheets presented in court yesterday, all the accused have been charged for contravening the Public Order Act 12 of 2017. It alleged that on different dates around Manzini and Moneni, they were allegedly found looting various shops where they reportedly took different items.

Oppose

In one of the applications, it is alleged that some of the arresting officers informed the accused persons that there was a directive that the Crown should oppose their bail applications and that they (accused person) should not be given a speedy trial. They alleged that when they made their maiden court appearance, no charges were read to them, their rights were not explained to them and were reportedly not given an opportunity to enter any plea. Each of the alleged looters had filed their applications separately and were represented by different attorneys. The applications, which were eight in number, were before Judge Titus Mlangeni.  When each matter was called, the Crown representative told the court his instructions were to oppose the bail applications and that it was yet to file its papers outlining why it was against the release of the accused persons from jail.

This prompted Judge Mlangeni to enquire from him the rationale behind opposing the applications as the law under which they had been charged was clear on how to deal with such cases. The only person who was fortunate to get bail was Siphiwo Mondlane, who is pregnant. She was on Monday admitted to E500 bail by Mlangeni. In her bail application, Mondlane informed the court that on June 29, 2021, while she was from Medicins San Frontiers Clinic at Matsapha Industrial Site to do her routine pre-natal check-up along Mathangeni, she was arrested with 18 others who were unknown to her.  “I humbly submit that a plain-clothes police officer, upon discovering that I had nothing in my possession, ordered me to enter the looted Matsapha Home Collection Shop and ‘steal’ an item so that he could charge me with housebreaking. I refused to take heed of the officer’s instruction and there and then two male co-accused were shot by the plain-clothes police officers,” alleged Mondlane. Mondlane told the court that in fear for her life, she had no alternative, but to heed to the police officer’s instruction and ‘stole’ an item from Matsapha Home Collection Shop along the Mathangeni – Police College Public Road.  

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: