PASTOR MALUME GUILTY OF MOLESTING PUPIL (11), BANNED

MBABANE - Pastor and transport operator, Bongie Phiri, has been found guilty of sexually molesting an 11-year-old pupil, while on the way to drop her home from school.

Mbabane Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi sentenced the accused yesterday, with orders that his company, Lions Children in Transit, should have its licence revoked and that he not be granted a permit or trading licence, or register a company to transport children either by being hired by parents, schools, church organisations or any other persons or stakeholders in Eswatini.

Stakeholders

The court also ordered that the relevant stakeholders in the matter be served with this judgment, including the Eswatini Council of Churches, Ministry of Education, Registrar of Companies, the Children Unit under the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) Office and the Road Transportation Board. He was charged for contravening Section 36(1) as read with Section 36 (1) (a) (i) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018.

This, after being arrested for sexually molesting the minor while taking her home from school by touching the minor’s buttocks and thighs upon dropping off other pupils he had been transporting. The guilty verdict automatically places Phiri’s name in the national register for sex offenders.  During his initial appearance at the magistrates court, Phiri declined legal representation and elected to conduct his own defence. He had stated that he would plead guilty once aware of the precise content of the charges levelled against him.

After the charges were read to him, he told the court that although he was committed to telling the court the whole truth, part of the allegations were untrue.  The Crown applied that he be remanded in custody until October 17, 2024 and was notified that he would be removed from all contact with minors until the case reached finality. Phiri then applied for bail, citing his responsibilities as the breadwinner in his family and the negative impact his being behind bars would have on his business. He further promised not to evade justice by way of escaping as he had no relatives outside the country.

Investigations

The magistrate referred the matter to the Children’s Unit under the DPM’s Office for further investigations. Phiri was subsequently granted bail of E5 000, on condition that he does not engage in the transportation of minors. He was ordered to hire the services of another driver to continue with the business, with the Social Welfare Department ordered to ensure Phiri complied with the order to stay away from minors, pending finality of the matter. The Crown also informed the court, that the minor would be undergoing counselling following the traumatic incident. His trial date was then set for yesterday, after the Crown had informed the court that arrangements for counselling for the minor had been difficult to arrange due to examinations.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: