BUSINESSMAN HELD FOR E1.8M GOLD BAR

MANZINI – A businessman was arrested after he was found in possession of a gold bar valued at E1.8 million.
Sipho Dludlu (42) of Manzini was arrested by the police last Thursday after he was found having breakfast at the popular Mkhulu Restaurant, situated next to Fitness Zone.

The arresting police officers are said to have ordered the businessman to open his vehicle, which was parked at the customer parking as they had a search warrant.
Upon searching his vehicle, the officers opened the vehicle’s cubbyhole and found a block of gold weighing 878.4 grams inside.

The businessman was taken to the police station where he was questioned and further arrested. Dludlu spent the night in custody and appeared at the magistrates court the following day.
The charge sheet states that the suspect, on February 27, 2014, was found in possession of the block of gold without a licence or permit to possess the said gold.
It further states that the gold was found hidden inside his vehicle.

Represented

During his court appearance before Principal Magistrate David Khumalo on Friday, the suspect was legally represented by Simo Simelane of ST Mamba Attorneys.
The attorney applied for bail on behalf of his client and informed the court that Dludlu was not a flight risk as he was a local businessman who had businesses around the country.
Simelane further stated that his client would surely abide by all the bail conditions.

The Public Prosecutor, Sandile Mdluli, told the court that he did not oppose bail, however, the affected motor vehicle had to be detained together with the said gold at the Manzini Police Station.
The suspect was ordered to attend all remand hearings when ordered to do so and not to commit a similar offence while out on bail. He was further informed not to interfere with Crown witnesses.
The principal magistrate informed the court that the vehicle and gold would be detained until the court decided otherwise.

Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Inspector Khulani Mamba confirmed the matter.
He did not want to comment further as the matter had already been taken to court.

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