EX-MAGISTRATE ARRESTED FOR BURNING CARAVAN

MANZINI – Former Magistrate Lucky Groening has been arrested for setting alight a caravan which was burnt beyond recognition and part of a Toyota Corolla.

The former magistrate, who recently had his employment terminated by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on medical grounds, allegedly burnt the caravan on Friday at 2am.
The said caravan was meant to house a security guard looking after the flats the magistrate resides at.

The magistrate stays at Top Hits Flats situated within the city and managed by SPM Estate Agency. Tenants at the flats said they were awoken by an explosion and people shouting that they should move away their vehicles as the caravan was on fire.
There were about 25 vehicles at the parking lot belonging to tenants of the flats and the owners were ordered to move them to the main road situated near the block of flats.

“At the time the magistrate was shouting, ‘fire, fire’, while threatening our security guard.
“We could not understand what had caused it until the security guard informed the police that Magistrate Groening was behind the fire.
“We immediately removed our vehicles, however, some had already caught on the fire from the caravan which had been burnt to ashes,” one resident who preferred anonymity said.

Another resident, Mpendulo Mdluli, said he considered himself lucky as his vehicle, a Toyota Corolla was almost burnt due to the incident.
The vehicle’s tail lights and rear side was burnt, however, he said he was able to move it from the incident scene before it got completely damaged. Mdluli said he did not have an idea who to approach as he needed his vehicle fixed.

He further stated that the damages amounted to E12 000 and had already submitted quotations to the police responsible for the case.
It was also reliably gathered that after the incident, the police were called and they arrived together with officials from the Ministries of Justice, Housing and the Manzini Police Station commander.

It is also alleged that the magistrate faces a few charges for offences committed on the night the fire incident occurred.
Groening is currently admitted to the National Psychiatric Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.
It was also revealed, during investigations, that the security guard, who fears for his life, could not be located the whole day yesterday.

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