KIDNAP SUSPECT CLAIMS HE WAS PLAYING SOCCER

MBABANE – The six men who were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a Japanese businessman Hiro Maeda were yesterday admitted to bail by the High Court.

They were each admitted to bail of E15 000 by High Court Judge Mpendulo Simelane.
The accused who were admitted to bail are Lucky Nkambule, Majaha Dlamini, Peter Nkambule, Vusi Msibi, Eliot Mncube and Mlamuli Sibandze. They were arrested by members of the Royal Swaziland Police while in one of the lodges in Mbabane. One of the accused managed to evade arrest and he is still at large.

Each of the accused was ordered to pay E5 000 cash and provide surety for the remaining amount. Their bail applications, which were filed under a certificate of urgency, were unopposed by the Crown.
Some of their bail conditions were that they should avail themselves to court as and when ordered to do so, should report to the Lobamba Police Station every Friday, should not interfere with Crown witnesses and that they should surrender their passports to the investigating officer.
The Crown was represented by Senior Crown Counsel Qondile Zwane from the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions while Veli Ndzinisa appeared for the accused.

In the bail application, one of the accused, Elliot Mncube stated that he was a South African male adult from Soweto and was employed in the transport industry, in particular cross border public vehicles. He submitted that he was arrested by members of the Royal Swaziland police on March 14, 2014.

“My arrest follows an allegation of kidnapping, extortion and robbery against an adult businessman also said to be of Lobamba.  I humbly submit that at all material times I was in the company of fellow teammates playing soccer at or around St’ Mary’s Sports ground around Lobamba.
“I respectfully submit that the charge against me is one that raises so many concerns on the safety and welfare of businessmen in the country, hence crucially sensitive to society at large,” he stated.

Mncube alleged that he had been interrogated, investigated and questioned on the matter and he was fully cooperative with the police.
He further submitted that he was not a criminal and what happened was an unfortunate consequence. The accused also maintained that he would be exonerated of the charges during the hearing of the trial.

His co-accused, Lucky Nkambule in his application, stated that he was an investor who employed more than 20 people. Nkambule said he will plead not guilty.

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