WARDER BREAKS INTO COPS’ HOUSES, SUSPENDED

MANZINI - A His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) officer, who is also a former Sihlangu soccer player has been suspended from work after he was found guilty of breaking into several police houses and stealing valuable items.

The officer, Mfanizile Myeni (42) of Khalangilile, who is under the Royal Guard wing, was yesterday sentenced to nine years imprisonment with an option of a E15 000 fine by Magistrate Mthokozisi Dlamini.
Myeni told the court about his suspension when he mitigated before sentencing.

He committed the housebreaking with intent to steal and theft offences together with a friend, Mbongeni Henry Gumbi (29) of Dwaleni, at the Matsapha Police Academy.
His Majesty’s Correctional Services Public Relations Officer Gugulethu Dlamini yesterday confirmed the suspension and added that during conviction, such offences were dismissible.

Meanwhile, the officer would break into the houses and steal valuable items which included LCD TVs, DVD players, microwaves, fans, heaters, laptops and clothing items among others.
One of the complainants, Mlandvo Shongwe, a police officer at the Police Academy, said he arrived at his house at around 1am and found the door wide open.
He said when he entered the house, he first noticed that his speakers were missing.

“When I rushed to the bedroom, I found the wardrobe opened too and further observed that a number of appliances had been stolen, even in the kitchen.
I went to report the break-in at the Matsapha Police Station and recorded statements,” the officer said
Another officer, Mzwandile Ngwenya, who is now with the Royal Guard said he had parked his vehicle near his flat when he noticed broken windows. He said he suspected that there was a break-in as the windows were not broken when he left during the same morning for work.

“I had difficulty opening the door due to the break-in and had to use a spade to forcefully open it.
When I eventually did, I found my sitting room empty and all the items, including TVs, DVDs, a fan, cellphones, my work uniform and a lot of other things stolen,” Ngwenya said.

Revealed

The officer also revealed that a while later, after he had reported the incident, he received a phone call informing him that most of the items had been recovered at Mbhuleni.
Hlengiwe Mavimbela, who is also a police officer at the Police Academy, had her valuable items stolen from her house too.
She told the court that she was away at work when the housebreaking incident occurred and suspected that the accused person used the kitchen window to gain entry into the house.

The stolen items included a TV, microwave, an iron, edibles from the kitchen, cash (E3 000), clothing items and also cooking utensils, all of which amounted to E11 000.
Another officer, Mnandi Malinga, said he had left his TV on and lights when he returned and found both off and the main door opened.

He said the door had been fiddled with and broken and also the windows. Malinga said his stolen items were found in the possession of Myeni, whom he found at the police station on the day of identification.
It was also revealed in court that such items would be transported using Myeni’s vehicle, which was used by Gumbi for pirating (illegal taxi business).

False

The prosecution submitted that Myeni’s evidence was false and inaccurate, hence he was later found guilty together with his counterpart.
Despite being found guilty, Myeni denied breaking into the police houses.
During mitigation, Myeni apologised for committing the offences and pleaded with the court to be lenient with him as he had five children to maintain and had already been suspended from work.

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