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NEPHEW HELD FOR E200 000 WATCHES, WINES THEFT

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MBABANE - A businessman has narrated in court how he caught his nephew red handed stealing his wines.

Maxwell Dlamini told the court that he launched his own investigations after his house was broken into on numerous occasions at Mnyokane.

At the time, he told the court that he had lost six watches worth above E200 000 and wines from the house.

“I engaged my family members, but nobody seemed to know the person behind the theft. I received information that my nephew shared whisky and wines with his friends on New Year’s Eve. I was told that the whisky and the wines met the description of the items which were stolen from my house,” he said.

He stated that his house was private in that it was only accessed by him and his wife. 

Information 

Dlamini stated that acting on the information, he pretended as if he was leaving for work on the fateful day. 

He submitted that he parked his motor vehicle somewhere and went back to camp at a peak, where he could observe all activities taking place next to his house. 

The businessman stated that while at the peak, he saw his nephew tampering with the sliding door with a plank. 

“I took a video footage the moment I saw him tampering with the door. He moved in and out of the house and I noticed that he snacked on my peanuts and juice. He then left the house with two whisky bottles. I saw him entering his house,” Dlamini told the court.

He mentioned that he then joined his nephew in the house, where he entered with the exhibits. 

He stated that a scuffle ensued as his nephew tried to escape.  

The businessman told the court that his nephew was injured during the scuffle. He mentioned that while questioning Celumusa Mhlanga, he (Mhlanga) admitted to the theft of the items, including the watches which went missing in July.

“He told me that he gave the watches to Melusi Zulu, who is also my nephew living at Nginamadvolo. I drove him to Nginamadvolo where we located Zulu. Zulu handed over three of the six stolen watches. The watches seemed to have been used as they were no longer in a good condition,” he said.

Dlamini told the court that he then handed his nephew to the police at Mbabane Police Station, where he was formally charged with housebreaking with intent to steal and theft. 

According to the charge sheet, there was a Gold Vecheron wrist watch valued at E120 000, Black diesel wrist watch valued at E70 000, Black tag heuer watch valued at E55 000, Bellavino wine valued at E500 and Nottage hill wine valued at E500.

During cross-examination, Mhlanga admitted to have stolen the items from his uncle’s house. However, he put it to Dlamini that in as much as he gave the court a factual account of what transpired on the day, he omitted something. “Why aren’t you telling the court that you assaulted me in the head with a stick after you locked the door of my house? Why are you leaving out that I bled profusely after you had assaulted me with the stick on the head? I have a medical report to prove that. You further assaulted me with fists all over the face on the day,” Mhlanga told the court. 

He added that the police officer advised him to open an assault case against his uncle, something he found unnecessary due to the fact that he wronged the businessman.

In response, Dlamini only admitted that Mhlanga was injured during the scuffle after he attempted to escape. 

He also admitted that he threatened to injure Mhlanga if he tried to run away while on their way to board the car. 

Mhlanga’s arrest was confirmed by Detective Constable Nothando Magongo, who investigated the matter.  Mitigating on the sentence, Mhlanga pleaded for the court’s leniency, stating that he had a younger sister to look after. 

He further told the court that a custodial sentence might result in him losing his job. He undertook not to commit a similar offence in future.

Acting Mbabane Senior Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati called upon the businessman to share his sentiments before he could sentence Mhlanga. 

Dlamini told the court that he banked his hopes on the Correctional facility that his nephew would come back a rehabilitated and a law-abiding citizen. 

The businessman said he had done all in his powers to rehabilitate his nephew but he persisted with his habits. 

“I hope you have better experts to rehabilitate my nephew,” he said.

However, Vilakati mentioned that it was not for the Correctional Services to transform individuals. 

The judicial officer stated that it was important that individuals took it upon themselves to transform.

Mhlanga was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E5 000.



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