RISKY TO GIVE SWAPA BOSS BAIL - CROWN

 MBABANE –  The Crown contends that releasing SWAPA President Mduduzi Bhembe and lawyer Sanele Mabila from custody will cause a sense of shock and outrage in the community and society at large.

It is alleged that the outrage might lead to public disorder and the members of the public would never have confidence in the country’s criminal justice system.
According to the Crown, the smuggled person’s family members were still aggrieved by Bhembe’s alleged actions.
Bhembe was further described as a flight risk as he had relatives at Jozini in South Africa.

The arrest of the two came about after the police made a link in the story of the Swazi man who was sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa with the suspended Mbekelweni head teacher. Bhembe is alleged to have smuggled the man, who was handed down two life sentences by the South African courts for trafficking three minors and a rape case. He was arrested by members of the Serious Crimes Unit (LUKHOZI) with his attorney, Mabila.

The Serious Crimes Unit, which had been working hand in hand with the Hawks in South Africa in this case, apprehended Bhembe at his home in Siphofaneni. The duo, in Bhembe and lawyer Mabila, want to be released on bail but the Crown, which is represented by Beauty Fakudze, is vigorously opposing their applications.

In his opposing papers, Inspector Bhekani Shiba stated that once released on bail, Bhembe might interfere with or intimidate State witnesses and he was arrested and charged, among other things, for the same reason; interfering with a State witness. “May I further State that the person so smuggled is a State witness in the charges faced by both accused persons (Bhembe and Mabila) as well as malpractice occasioned at Mbekelweni High School where he was a security officer,” submitted Inspector Shiba.

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