Times Of Swaziland: ASIAN MAN WHO FORGED KING’S SIGNATURE GETS E650 000 BAIL

ASIAN MAN WHO FORGED KING’S SIGNATURE GETS E650 000 BAIL
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BY KWANELE DLAMINI on 09/02/2018 23:44:00


MBABANE – Are the days of patting serious crimes suspects on the back over?
This, after the High Court yesterday granted one of the Asians who are alleged
to have forged the King’s signature for purposes of kukhonta bail fixed at
E650 000.
However, Judge Sipho Nkosi ordered Akmal Muhammad (49), who is originally from
Pakistan, to pay E150 000 in cash and provide surety for the balance of E500
000.
During the official opening of the 2018 Legal Year, Chief Justice Bheki
Maphalala called upon judges and magistrates to seriously consider and review
issues of bail and bail conditions.
aggravate
The CJ said there was an increase of heinous crimes like premeditated murder,
robbery and aggravated rape in the country and mentioned that there was need for
judicial officers to urgently review their approach to bail.
The Pakistani was represented by Linda Dlamini of Mabila Attorneys, who had
instructed Advocate Mduduzi Mabila. Crown Counsel Nomkhosi Dlamini appeared for
the State.
Muhammad has been charged with fraud, uttering a forged document, forgery and
contravening Section 14(2) (c) of the Immigration Act 17 of 1982. In total he
faces five counts.
He is alleged to have misrepresented to Paul Mphostoli Shabangu of the Swaziland
Citizenship Board, that two documents, an authority to issue a certificate of
kukhonta dated August 30, 2006 and Certificate of Kukhonta No.1009, were
authentic documents.