41 PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR DEFYING PARTIAL LOCKDOWN

MANZINI – At least 41 people were arrested for not adhering to the partial lockdown over the weekend.

The police, using the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, arrested 41 delinquent people over the weekend in the four regions of the country. According to Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Manzini Region had the highest number as 18 people were arrested followed by Shiselweni, where 17 had been arrested.

Admission

In the Hhohho and Lubombo Regions, three people were arrested apiece. Vilakati said a total of 41 people were arrested by the time this report was compiled. She said from these arrests, nine cases had the people charged with the Coronavirus Regulations and three were arrested using the Disaster Management Act and the rest were charged under the Liquor Act. Among those arrested, Vilakati said some paid an admission of guilt fine, which was a charge under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. The admission of guilt, according to Vilakati, ranged between E120 and E500. “The others who did not pay the admission of guilt fine will appear in court tomorrow (today).” She said a majority of those arrested had failed to adhere to Section 21 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, which was mostly failing to close at the stipulated time frames.

Penalty

During the partial lockdown in the country, bottle stores are anticipated to operate between 11am and 6pm while clubs and bars should be closed at all times. On the other hand, those who did not pay the admission of guilt face a penalty ranging between E25 000 (or spending two years in jail) and E10 000 (or being incarcerated for a year) according to Section 33 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020. Section 21 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020: Restriction and prohibition on sale of liquor 21. (1) Liquor consumption outlets including bars and clubs, shall cease to operate at the commencement of these Regulations. (2) A premise which sells liquor and also operates as an accommodation establishment shall provide adequate space and comply with all directives and guidelines issued by the government and the World Health Organisation in respect reducing the infecting others with Covid-19.  (3) A bottle store may be opened and operate between 11:00am to 6:00pm from Monday to Saturday.

Section 33 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020: Offences and penalties  (1) A person who contravenes a provision of these regulations commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding E25 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years.  (2) A person who intentionally gives false information about oneself or another person being infected with COVID-19 commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding E10 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year.
(3) Any person who intentionally exposes another person to COVID-19 may be prosecuted for an offence, including assault, attempted murder or murder.

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