No bail for suspected Pakistani murderers

MBABANE – Three robbery suspects implicated in the murder of a Pakistani national had their bail applications opposed by the Crown yesterday.

The trio was in court for bail which was moved on a certificate of urgency.

They sought to be released, pending finalisation of the matter. They were represented by Thabiso Fakudze and Crown Counsel Stanley Dlamini represented the Crown.

The case was heard by High Court Judge Mumcy Dlamini.

The accused are Masinda Dlamini, 50, Fana Yende and Mpendulo Ndzinisa.

They were co-charged with Jabulile Ngcobo, a traditional healer, Sandile Gamedze, a landlord and Nhlakanipho Dlamini.

Ngcobo, Gamedze and Dlamini were released on bail between April and May this year after they were arrested on April 23, 2012 and slapped with nine counts of robbery and murder.

The traditional healer allegedly helped the other suspects conceal the evidence in the charges they are facing by providing them with a concoction which they used in the proc- ess.

Gamedze is the landlord who was suspected to have informed his co-accused of the Pakistani national who was renting a flat at his place.

He is the owner of the flats after his deceased mother left them in his guard.

The other accused are alleged to have acted in furtherance of a common purpose in committing the crime.

A Pakistani national was shot and killed during the robbery.

The applications of the trio were, however, opposed by the Crown. It was alleged that it was not in the interests of justice that the accused be released on bail because they were a flight risk.

The prosecution alleged that Masinda committed the alleged offence while he was out on bail.

He was allegedly charged with contravening the Arms and Ammunitions Act, which case is still pending before the Manzini Magistrates Court.

It was also alleged that it was suspected he would abscond trial as he also allegedly absconded trial when his case was called at the Magistrates Court.

He disputed all this as an untruth. It was submitted that he could not be admitted to bail because he committed the present offence while out on bail.

Yende could not be released because he allegedly did not have a home. He was arrested at Ludzeludze where he alleged was his home, according to Constable Msizi Dlamini.

When he was arrested, there were no children or grandmother as he alleged that he had to take care of his children who were left with no one to take care of them.

The accused admitted that there were no children when he was arrested because they had gone to visit their grandmother at Mgazini, Mankayane.

The homestead he resided in at Ludzeludze allegedly belongs to his uncle who works in South Africa.

Ndzinisa, it was alleged, could be hard to locate as he allegedly had no permanent place of abode yet one of the bail conditions should be that he must furnish the investigating officer with his residential address.

He also failed to tell the court where he resided and further produce proof of residence.

The matter was postponed to tomorrow where it will be heard in detail.

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