Ex-mr SD arrested for stealing Mercedes

MANZINI- Former Mr Swaziland Mphumuti Nkambule has been arrested for the theft of a Mercedes Benz import vehicle worth E95 000 from Alqaim Motors.

Nkambule, who was hiding his face with his left hand at the Magistrates Court, was arrested with Ghanaian national, Samuel Awutey. They were charged with two offences, one being for stealing the said vehicle, a Mercedes Benz, navy blue without registration numbers on October 19, 2010.

The other count is for breaking into the same premises at Alqaim Motors, Manzini and first stealing keys for different vehicles namely the Mercedes Benz worth E3 000, a red Opel Vita key worth E2 000, silver grey Opel Vita key worth E2 000 and also various CDs worth E350 before stealing the Mercedes Benz. All the items stolen are worth E100 235. The accused appeared before Principal Magistrate, David Khumalo yesterday and were represented by attorneys, Sikhumbuzo Simelane and Mthokozisi Dlamini respectively.

Simelane pleaded with the Principal Magistrate for bail and further requested that he grant Nkambule a reasonable amount. He also requested the court to allow the accused to pay E3 000 and the rest be paid in instalments.

The Principal Magistrate said the bail amount should be a large amount and also affordable to accused.

Khumalo said the offence was serious because the total value of the stolen items exceeded E100 000. The accused were given E50 000 bail, E5 000 to be paid in cash for each person and the rest be secured in instalments after an affidavit thoroughly checked by the Principal Magistrate.

Khumalo said the accused would not be released until they had both paid the E5 000 and provide surety of instalments. He also said they should also surrender their passports at the Manzini Police Station until the case was finalised.

"The accused will not be allowed to apply for new travel documents until the case is finalised, they will also be required to appear in court whenever they are required and not interfere with police investigations and state witnesses," Khumalo said.

Nkambule and Awutey were also told not to commit a similar offence while they were out on bail. They will appear in court on November 2, 2010 pending the setting of a trial date.

Early this year, Nkambule and his allies allegedly stole property worth approximately E63 000 that include computers and other electronics at SEDCO (Small Enterprise Development Company) Manzini. Nkambule was arrested and charged with nine counts emanating from robberies that were staged at SEDCO on January 17 this year.

The gang took three security guards hostage, whom they tied up before breaking into the different stalls.

Comments

Mphumuti and Zaga are always in the papers for all the wrong reasons, chief amongst them being theft. You guys should swallow your pride & find jobs either at the textile firms or in the construction companies. In that way you will survive without attracting the law enforcement agents' attention.
Oct 27, 2010, 3:18 AM, Mr S.V. Matsenjwa (Mabura365@yahoo.com)

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