DPP OPPOSES BAIL FOR ASIANS FACING BRIBERY CHARGES

MBABANE – The three Asian nationals who have been arrested for trying to bribe a businessman shy away from the camera during their remand hearing at the Mbabane Magistrates Court yesterday. (Pic: Mduduzi Mngomezulu)

MBABANE – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is opposing the bail application of the three Asian businessmen who have been arrested on bribery charges.

The three, Patel Akther Hussein (India) Mohammed Shiraj (Zimbabwe) and Khaled Patel (India) are alleged to have given a prominent businessman, who is also public auctioneer, a sum of E150 000 in an attempt to bribe him.
The DPP’s office, which is represented by Senior Crown Counsel Elsie Matsebula, yesterday filed a notice of intention to oppose the accused’s bail application.

Reasons for opposing the bail will be outlined in the opposing papers, which the DPP’s office will file at the High Court today.  However, one of the reasons why the accused’s bail application is being opposed is that it is alleged that they are a flight risk.

They appeared before Magistrate Sihle Dludlu, who remanded them in custody.
They were driven to the Mbabane Magistrates Court in two sedans from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and immediately upon alighting from the vehicles, they covered their faces with hoods to hide from cameras.
Unlike other accused persons who had been brought to court, they were made to enter the courtroom through the back entrance.
The three have been charged jointly with their company IMM Investments (PTY) Ltd.

With the said money, the Asian businessmen were allegedly trying to influence the prominent businessman, who is expected to conduct the auction, to consider them for the deal. The money was brought to the businessman in two instalments, with the first instalment being  E50 000 and the second E100 000.

Instead of accepting the supposed bribe, the businessman alerted the police and the ACC and handed the money over to them.
It is alleged that they contravened Section 23(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act No.3/2006.

According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that upon or about February 2015, and near Mbabane, the accused, acting in furtherance of a common purpose, directly gave advantage in the form of payment of E150 000 to a public auctioneer engaged by SPTC, to conduct an auction by closed bids for cables valued at E3 million for his (public auctioneer) and their (accused) benefit.

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