MING HE GETS LIFE, OLIVEIRA’S WIFE WANTS HUBBY’S BODY

MBABANE – Qing Ming He may have been handed a life sentence for the murder of businessman Almor Oliveira, but his wife said she cared less about his sentence.

Instead, she wants to know the location of her husband’s remains. The elderly Audilia De Oliveira Simoes said she was more interested in knowing where the body of her husband was. Qing was charged with the murder of Oliveira, who went missing on April 16, 2017, despite that the whereabouts of the former are still unknown. Oliveira was 77 years old when he went missing at his business premises in Matsapha. Qing (48) was also charged with kidnapping and attempting to extort Audilia a sum of E5 million for the return of her husband. He faced other charges such as possession of firearms and live rounds of ammunition, among others. In total, he faced 12 charges.

Convicted

On May 27, 2021, Judge John Magagula convicted him of the charge of murder, kidnapping, attempted extortion and possession of firearms and rounds of ammunition. Yesterday, the judge sentenced him to life imprisonment for the murder of the businessman. He was further sentenced to five years behind bars without an option of a fine for kidnapping and three years for attempted extortion. In an interview with Audilia shortly before Qing was sentenced, she said the important thing to her was to know where the body of her husband was. Audilia, who seemed resigned to the fact that her husband was killed, was asked if it would matter to her if Qing was given a lengthy sentence and she said: “It is better if I know where the body is.”

According to Audilia, it was ‘ok’ that Qing would be sentenced because he was a criminal and added that his sentence would not bring back her husband. She said as far as she was concerned, the body of Oliveira was still in the country. She said it was not true, as per Qing’s evidence during the trial, that her husband was supposedly taken to Mozambique by three men he claimed to have kidnapped him. Qing told the court that Zhang Xio Jian, Chen Qin and Chen Guo Qin were the ones who committed the offences.

Audilia said Qing was not being truthful when he told the court that Oliveira had been presumably taken to Mozambique. Qing told the court that he did not know whether Oliveira was still alive or not. “He (Oliveira) is in Swaziland (Eswatini). He (Qing) knows it and he knows where the body is,” said Oliveira’s wife. Audilia also alleged that Qing was not alone when he committed the offence. She alleged that another businessman was involved in the commission of the offences. She said she knew the businessman because he and Qing were their tenants. She also said it was not true that the people who committed the offences were not in the country.

According to Audilia, the businessman she was referring to was in Eswatini still running his business. She said the businessman moved out of the premises he was renting from Oliveira after the latter had gone missing. When asked if she notified the police about the businessman she was referring to, she said she informed the prosecutor in her husband’s case and ‘he tried his best but (shrugs her shoulders). The police are aware’. Audilia was one of the witnesses during the trial. She told the court that she wished to see her husband again. Qing was represented by Ndlangamandla, who had instructed South African Advocate Barry Roux. Advocate Leppan, who was instructed by Principal Crown Counsel Thabo Dlamini, submitted to the court that Qing deserved the death sentence.

Advocate Leppan said if the death sentence was not given, Qing should be sentenced to life imprisonment. Judge Magagula said he concurred with the advocate’s submission to remove Qing from society permanently. When the court convicted Qing, Judge Magagula said it was fair in his view to conclude that Oliveira was killed. The judge said the ransom messages that were sent to Audilia stated clearly that if the ransom of E5 million was not paid, she would never see him again. The judge said that meant that he would be killed if the money was not paid.

Evidence

Judge Magagula also said the evidence of Ncamsile Gina, who was an accountant for the businessman, established that since the day of his disappearance, no transactions had been made on his bank accounts. Oliveira was on regular medication for diabetes and hypertension and Gina said no medical bills had been received since his disappearance. “From the circumstances, it is also reasonable to conclude that Mr Oliveira has died,” the judge added. Judge Magagula stated that the remaining question was whether Qing was involved in the kidnapping and killing of the businessman. He said there were a number of factors connecting Qing with the offences. Advocate Leppan, who was instructed by the Crown and was assisted by Principal Crown Counsel Dlamini, submitted that a summary of all the evidence of the Crown witnesses and Qing himself put it beyond any reasonable doubt that he was involved in the commission of the offences. Leppan told the court that Qing’s motor vehicle, a silver grey BMW sedan, was used in the commission of the offences and his cellphone was used in conveying the ransom messages to Oliveira’s wife.

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