15-YR-OLD AMONG PRIVATE SCHOOL ARSON SUSPECTS

MBABANE - The youngest accused in the burning of property valued at close to E2 million at New Life Christian Academy is 15 years old.

The suspect is a learner in the school and was arrested together with four of his schoolmates, who are aged 17, 18 and 19. Two of the pupils are aged 19. According to the holding charge, the quintet stands accused of contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act.  They were rounded up by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) on Monday at around 5pm. It has been reliably gathered that the five pupils might be made accomplice witnesses in the matter after they recorded statements outlining how they got involved in the burning of the school.

“In their statements, they reportedly disclosed that they were sent to go and burn the school by a certain individual, who had some grievances with the management of the private school, which is situated at Mpolonjeni on the outskirts of Mbabane,” said the impeccable source.

Confessions

The contents of the statements or confessions which were recorded by the pupils cannot be disclosed as they are still to be presented and their veracity tested in court. The insider said since investigations were still ongoing, the charge might be amended to that of arson. He further pointed out that the person who allegedly instructed the five pupils to burn the school was still at large. The source revealed that instead of being taken to court yesterday, the five pupils were taken to the Social Welfare Department to be interviewed or accessed by a social worker. He said the process was provided for in Section 80 and 81 of Children’s Protection Act No.6 of 2021, which stipulated that children who were arrested should first be assessed. The school’s library, computer lab and four classrooms were burnt, with the roofing collapsing in some of the affected structures. Burnt tyre remnants were found inside some of the affected buildings. 

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