‘I STILL WONDER HOW E2.9M WAS STOLEN’

MBABANE - Minister in Presidency in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Andrade – Antonio Bibang Nchuchuma says he is still wondering how the E2.9 million was stolen at Royal Villas as security was tight.

The money belonged to Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who is now the vice president of that country. 
When the incident happened, Mbasogo was the Minister of Agriculture and was in the country as a guest to His Majesty King Mswati III.

The minister in presidency was on Thursday in the country to give evidence on behalf of the vice president (Mbasogo). There was high security at the High Court which consisted of members of the Royal Swaziland Police and bodyguards of the minister in presidency from Equatorial Guinea.
In his evidence under oath, he informed the court that he was also in the country accompanying Mbasogo when the incident happened and at that time he was a minister of national security.

He was being led in evidence by Senior Crown Brian Magagula before High Court Judge Qinisile Mabuza.
“I still do not understand how the suitcase with the money belonging to the vice president was stolen and during that time I was responsible for his security. When I was informed that his suitcase was stolen I failed to understand as there were a lot people who were manning security at the Royal Villas that day,” Nchuchuma said.

He informed the court that to this day he still does not understand how the suitcase and the money belonging to Mbasongo were stolen.
He further testified that after the incident, he advised Mbasogo to leave the country as he thought his life was in danger.

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“The life of the vice president was in danger so I decided that he should leave and I remained behind to continue with the investigations with the help of the local police.  My feeling was that someone had been following the vice president before the suitcase was stolen,” he stated.

He told the court that when Mbasogo left Swaziland, he (minister in presidency) met with the National Commissioner of Police and spent three days in the country. The minister in presidency said when he left the country, the only thing he left with was a picture of the suspect. He submitted that the picture of the suspect was, however, not clear.

“While at home (Republic of Equatorial Guinea) the National Commissioner of Police called to inform him that the suspect had been arrested and further told me that he will be taken to court. He also told me that the suitcase and the money were also recovered,” he said.
He said together with the vice president they then came back to the country where they positively identified the stolen items.

“The items were brought to the Royal Villas by the investigators where they were booked. During the identification exercise it was me, the vice president, manager of the Royal Villas and the investigators. The suspects were not present,” he said.
The matter continues at the High court.

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