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ELECTRICITY THEFT: CBE EMPLOYEE, EX-CIVIL SERVANT FACE 44 COUNTS

01/08/2019 00:50:00 BY SIBUSISO SHANGE

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MBABANE – The Central Bank of Eswatini estate assistant and a former officer of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, will have to answer on a combined 44 charges.

The duo was arrested in connection with fraud relating to electricity units.
Thabo Martin Mswane (32) of Ludzeludze, will answer to nine counts of the 44 charges.

He was arrested along with a former accountant in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Lindiwe Grace Nkonyane (49) of Ngwenya, who appeared as the first accused in the nine counts.
His co-accused faces 35 additional counts of the same offence.

Arrested

The duo was arrested after the completion of the police investigations last Tuesday.
According to the charge sheet, Nkonyane as an accountant, was entrusted with due care and custody of monies and purchasing of electricity units for the ministry, while Mswane, as an Estate Assistant, was entrusted with due care and custody of monies and purchasing of electricity units for the bank’s property.

It is alleged that they acted in furtherance of a common purpose and with intent to defraud, misrepresented to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Financial Controller Nikiwe Siniketiwe Maphalala, that electricity units valued at different amounts were purchased for the ministry.

It is alleged that when the duo made the misrepresentation, they knew very well that the electricity units were never distributed accordingly, but used for their personal use and or gain on several meter numbers in premises occupied by different individuals and companies.
It appeared that some houses where the electricity units were loaded were occupied by the duo.

When informed of their rights to legal representation, the duo informed the court that they would be represented. The Crown applied that they be remanded in custody until August 16, pending their committal to the High Court.
Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati remanded them and also advised them to move their bail applications at the High Court due to the nature of the offences they were charged with.

Meanwhile, lawyer Ben J Simelane arrived early and enquired about his client from the arresting officer.
He then requested for the charge sheet before he had a short conversation with Nkonyane concerning bail.

Mswane was not too bold to face the cameras, as he tried all in his powers to hide his face as he moved to a police van. He walked a distance of about 30 metres with his face covered with a jacket.