KMIII GUARD STEALS OVER E75K FROM BUSINESSMAN

MBABANE – A security officer stationed at  King Mswati III International Airport is on the run after being caught on camera stealing over E75 000 from a businessman.
King Mswati III (KMIII) International Airport is located at Sikhuphe, 50 kilometres from Manzini. The employee was an Airline Aviation Security (AVSEC) officer and he was reportedly caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV), stealing the amount of over E75 000 from a Nigerian businessman, who had failed to declare the currency. This was after the businessman, Nwanji Marcelinus Onyebuchi (37), had entered the airport without declaring his money. It was gathered that the businessman had not declared the amount of US$10 342, which is equivalent to E186 170.

Screening

The undeclared money was said to have been discovered during security screening, which resulted in him being detained. When he was released in order to appear at Siteki Magistrates Court, Onyebuchi was said to have counted his money and discovered that it was US$4 000 (E75 463.84) short. According to a source, the passenger travelling on Royal Swazi Airlines flight RN 101 was found to be carrying approximately US$10 342 in undeclared currency. As required by law, the passenger was directed to the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) to declare the funds. However, upon reaching the ERS, he discovered a discrepancy of US$4 000. Suspecting theft during the security screening process, airport authorities reviewed footage from surveillance cameras (CCTV). The review allegedly revealed that an AVSEC officer had taken the missing money.

It is alleged that the AVSEC officer took advantage and nicked the money; however, his joy of hitting a ‘jackpot’ was short-lived. It was gathered that when the investigation was carried out through the use of the CCTV cameras, the employee disappeared from his place of employment to this day. Meanwhile, the businessman was arrested and appeared before Principal Magistrate Donald Mavuso. He was charged for contravening Section 42 of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act of 2011, in that he failed to declare the said amount of money to the relevant officials at the airport. He was also charged for contravening Section 14 of the Immigration Act of 1982, after he purportedly entered and remained in the country without being a holder of a valid permit.

He pleaded guilty to both counts and his pleas were confirmed by his lawyer, Mathokoza Mbhamali of Mbhamali Attorneys. Meanwhile, the police are said to have instituted an investigation regarding the theft by the AVSEC officer. The investigation was confirmed by Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni. She said: “The matter was reported to the airport police and it is under investigation.” On the other hand, a questionnaire to Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA), who are the custodians of the port of entry was yet to be responded to when this report was compiled yesterday.

Declaring

On the other hand, this was not the first incident in which a traveller entered the port without declaring money at the airport. In 2023, this publication reported that a Zimbabwean national was found with E2.8 million cash at KMIII International Airport. Masiyakurima Agrippa Bopela (Masiya), entered the kingdom with the equivalent of E2 897 183 in US Dollars and attempted to leave the country the following day with the cash after a local bank reportedly declined him permission to deposit the money at a go. After police officers stationed at the airport seized the money, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) swiftly ran to court for an order to have it formally kept by the police pending further investigations into its source and destination.  It was suspected that the money was obtained through illicit means, it is proceeds of ill-gotten activities, money laundering or possibly to finance terrorism.
The police reportedly suspected that the Zimbabwean national, who is purportedly a well-known businessman in his home country, was working with high-profile local people hence the need for further investigations.

In the urgent application to formally seize the money, which the DPP moved in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) 2018, she related how the Zimbabwean national was caught, his attitude towards the police during their preliminary investigation and the suspicions the law enforcer had about the source of the money. Narrating events leading to the recovery of the money, Head of Asset Forfeiture Unit under the DPP’s Office, Principal Crown Counsel Elsie Matsebula, submitted that upon arrival at the airport, Masiya (46) went through the immigration processes and, thereafter, moved to the Department of Eswatini Revenue Service (Customs), where he declared an amount of US$153 000 (E2 820 000).
Upon completion of the declaration process, said Matsebula, the Zimbabwean was released to go with the cash. She told the court that the information about the bulk cash amount was received by investigators based at Lubombo Regional Police Headquarters in Siteki under the Financial and Economic Crimes Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Noticed

According to Matsebula, on the following day, Masiya was back at the airport to fly out of the country. A police officer, who was at the Central Screening Point, noticed that Masiya had cash in his bag and asked him if he had declared the cash and he indicated that he had done so when he arrived in the country the previous day. It was said Masiya was informed that he was supposed to declare it again when departing. “Masiya was taken back to the Customs’ desk, where he handed the cash to the officers and it was counted. It totalled US$153 860. US$3 860 was in Masiya’s pockets. He was then asked for the source of the cash before she appended her signature on the declaration form. Masiya failed to produce the source of the funds. She then reported the matter to her superiors. The cash was seized.” The financial investigators were informed about the arrival of Masiya back at the airport with the cash and they rushed there.

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