MAN TRIES TO JUMP OVER FENCE INTO ESWATINI WITH R424 800

MBABANE-A 39-year-old South African man has been arrested at the Oshoek Border Post while attempting to jump over the fence into the country with E424 800 in his possession.

The man was arrested by the Border Management Authority Authorities and it was discovered that the money had not been declared, which violates the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Act 38 of 2001. According to a statement issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), the man was caught in the act of attempting to cross the border of South Africa into Eswatini, jumping through the fence when the determined members stopped and searched him. Captain Dineo Sekgotodi in the statement said the man was holding a black plastic bag containing a cash amount of E424 800 which was found and seized. 

According to Sekgotodi, information was escalated to the Hawks Secunda-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation who took over the crime scene. She explained that during interrogation, the suspect was questioned about the money, its origin and where it was taken, but failed to give a clear explanation. “It was also discovered that the money was not declared as per FIC Act 38 of 2001 in terms of section 54 read with section 30. He was then arrested, charged with possession of suspected stolen property,” Sekgotodi said. The captain stated that the money was seized and booked in SAP 13.

Investigation

Furthermore, Sekgotodi said the investigation is continuing and the suspect is expected to appear before the Elukwatini Magistrate Court today. Early this year, the police arrested an astute South African businessman who attempted to smuggle over E870 000 through Ngwenya Border Gate. Lazarus Mphosi (38), who owns a number of filling stations in Eswatini and in the Republic of South Africa, was arrested at Ngwenya Border Gate while trying to enter the country with the cash, which was hidden inside his car.  Information that was gathered, Mphosi was caught around 12:30 pm when police who were conducting a routine stop and search at the border gate stopped his Land Cruiser registered KH 141 KT GP at the entry point.
The law enforcers are said to have then asked for permission to search the car and it was during that exercise that they discovered a sum of E879 700 hidden under the car seats. 

The police, after learning that he had not declared the money to the officials, proceeded to charge him for contravening Section 41 (1) of the Money Laundering and Finance of Terrorism Act of 2011. The businessman was taken to Mbabane Magistrates Court where he was detained for hours. He appeared before Mbabane Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati and pleaded guilty. The court sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of a fine of E30 000.

The senior magistrate, however, suspended half of the sentence, which means the businessman only paid E15 000 to gain his freedom.  In 2022, a tip-off from an anonymous caller led to the police recovering a sum of E830 070 hidden in a South African registered motor vehicle at Ngwenya Border Gate last Monday. The money, which was found concealed in false compartments, was reportedly being smuggled to the neighbouring country.  A false compartment is any box, container, space or enclosure intended or designed to conceal any controlled item within a motor vehicle.

Denominations

According to the investigator of the matter, the money was in denominations of R200, R100, R50 and R10. These are equivalent to the local currency of Emalangeni. Police say they believe the money was ill-gotten and was to be used for illegal activities. The driver of the motor vehicle, who is a South African national, Thando Daniel Zulu, is said to have failed to give the police an explanation when asked about the source of the money and this led to him being arrested.  The director of public prosecutions (DPP) obtained an order in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act (POCA) 2018 to preserve the money, pending application for its forfeiture. The court also issued an order allowing the prosecution to seize the motor vehicle, a white Toyota Hilux.

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