BISHOP LUKHELE EXTORTION ATTEMPT: SUSPECT WANTED

MBABABE - Police are asking for public assistance to locate a man they believe can assist them with information pertaining to the attempt to extort Archbishop Bheki Lukhele of All Nations a sum of E230 000.

It has been gathered that Sihle Mkheyi Gama, was questioned by the police regarding this matter and later released on condition that he would avail himself whenever required to. However, he is said to have failed to honour a call by the law enforcers, hence the request to the public to locate him. Gama assisted the police with information after he was accused, together with a soldier, of demanding a bribe amounting to E230 000 from the All Nations Church in Zion archbishop.

Investigators

It is alleged that the duo posed as investigators from the Eswatini Financial Intelligence Unit (EFIU) and that they had documents implicating Lukhele. It is said that the duo demanded the bribe on condition that they would ensure that Lukhele was not arrested. However, it is said that Lukhele, who believed in his innocence, promptly reported to the police, who subsequently detained the duo for questioning. It has been gathered that the duo was released from custody pending finalisation of the investigations on condition that they would be recalled if needed.

When called for further investigations, it is said that Gama did not show up, resulting in the police putting him on their wanted list. The police service has since called upon anyone who might have information about Gama’s whereabouts to call Hhohho Regional Crime Branch Officer J Madlopha on 7605 7428, In-charge Lukhozi D Makhanya on 760 89712, In-charge fraud M Dlamini on 7603 4664 or Mbabane Police Station Desk Officer A Dludlu on 7626 0105, as well as 999/9999. This has been the first spin-off from the widely publicised Swazi Secrets, an investigative project coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). It was said the project is based on 890 000 leaked documents from EFIU, which ICIJ says it shared with a team of 38 journalists across 11 countries.

Documented

The reports documented Archbishop Lukhele as having allegedly played a role in the transfer of certain monies from the African National Congress’s election account. There is no record of Lukhele responding to the allegations. Meanwhile, the reports by the ICIJ analysed Lukhele’s finances from as early as 2017. Attributing their investigations from the EFIU documents, they documented the movement of money in these accounts, further citing high profile people as beneficiaries of the accounts. The investigators said they had also visited Lukhele’s All Nations Church in Ezulwini and further analysed the structures. They also wrote extensively about Lukhele’s properties and their values. The ICIJ also documented how the archbishop had close relations with an Eswatini diplomat and a municipal councillor.

Also, the reports had details about his activities such as his leadership role at Mbabane Swallows Football Club and further made mention of his motor vehicles. The reports quoted a previous interview Lukhele had with Swaziland News, in which he said there was nothing sinister with his finances. It was alleged in the reports, that the police had asked him questions about his finances but later left him alone after getting the answers.

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