By Delisa Thwala
Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati remanded back to custody Zweli Honest Dlamini, aged 38, who ironically has been alleged to be involved in dishonest extortion attempts appeared before the magistrate on Tuesday.
The accused person was charged with the offense of conspiracy to commit fraud. That on April 2, 2024, at Mbabane in the district of Hhohho region the said accused person unlawfully and with intent to defraud conspired to misrepresent to Archbishop Bheki ‘All Nations’ Lukhele that they were Officers from the Financial Intelligence Unit and he entitled to receive payment of E230,000.00 from him.
This bogus payment was to supposedly stop Interpol Investigation on his bank account whereas the said accused person at the time conspired to misrepresent to the said Bheki Lukhele when he knew that he was not an Official from the Financial Intelligence Unit and was not entitled to receive E250,000.00 from the said Lukhele and did thereby conspire to commit fraud.
The prosecutor asked that Dlamini be remanded in custody until June 11, 2024, for the setting of the trial.
Prosecutor Chris Sibandze said the accused was already serving another sentence at Mbuluzi Army Barracks Inkalakabusha and they will use a production warrant when he must appear in court.
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Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati asked the accused if he had any opposition or additions to the made submissions. Dlamini responded and said he had a lot to say because most of the issues talked about in court were not attributed to him.
“Your worship I would love to say something, most of the things I’m accused of were mostly done by the other accused who is missing,” he said.
Meanwhile, police are asking for public assistance to locate a man they believe can assist them with information about the attempt to extort Archbishop Bheki Lukhele of All Nations a sum of E230 000.
It has been gathered that Sihle Mkheyi Gama, was questioned by the police regarding this matter and later released on the condition that he would avail himself whenever required however,
He is said to have failed to honor a call by the law enforcers, hence the request to the public to locate him.
Gama assisted the police with information after he was accused, together with a soldier, of demanding a bribe amounting to E230 000 from the All Nations Church in Zion archbishop.
It is alleged that the duo posed as investigators from the Eswatini Financial Intelligence Unit (EFIU) and that they had documents implicating Lukhele.
It is said that the duo demanded the bribe on condition that they would ensure that Lukhele was not arrested. However, it is said that Lukhele, who believed in his innocence, promptly reported to the police, who subsequently detained the duo for questioning.
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The duo was released from custody pending finalization of the investigations on condition that they would be recalled if needed when called for further investigations, it is said that Gama did not show up, resulting in the police putting him on their wanted list.
The police service has since called upon anyone who might have information about Gama’s whereabouts to call Hhohho Regional Crime Branch Officer J. Madlopha on 7605 7428, in charge Lukhozi D Makhanya on 760 89712 In-charge fraud M Dlamini on 7603 4664 or 9999
This has been the first spin-off from the widely publicized Swazi Secrets, an investigative project coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICU).
It was said the project is based on 890 000 leaked documents from EFIU, which ICJ says it shared with a team of 38 journalists across 11 countries.
The reports documented Archbishop Lukhele as having allegedly played a role in the transfer of certain monies from the African National Congress’s election account.
There is no record of Lukhele responding to the allegations.
Meanwhile, the reports by the ICIJ analysed Lukhele’s finances from as early as 2017. Attributing their investigations from the EFIU documents,
They documented the movement of money in these accounts, further citing high-profile people as beneficiaries of the accounts.
The investigators said they had also visited Lukhele’s All Nations Church in Ezulwini and further analysed the structures.
They also wrote extensively about Lukhele’s properties and their values. The ICU also documented how the archbishop had close relations with an Eswatini diplomat and a municipal councillor.
Also, the reports had details about his activities such as his leadership role at Mbabane Swallows Football Club, and further made mention of his motor vehicles.
ACCUSED DRIVEN IN LUXURIOUS CAR
Unlike other convicted and accused persons who arrive and leave in police vans, Sizwe Dlamini has driven around in a 4-seater Chevrolet. The white car was occupied by Dlamini and plain-clothed officers.
When he left court, Dlamini had a mini standoff with a journalist inside the courtroom where he demanded his pictures be deleted.
“Sisi please delete that, why am I being photographed,” he asked, directing the questions to journalists.
When he made his exit, Dlamini was wearing a black hoodie, grey sweatpants, and beige sneakers.
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Meanwhile, items detained by police officers on the day of the arrest were shown to the court.
According to section 52 (1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, as amended, applicant officer Dludlu asked the items to be detained whereas he was satisfied based on an application made to me in terms of section 52 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1938 (A Amended).
And he was satisfied further that these items seized from the suspect are core exhibits in the matter above.
It was ordered that the items be kept at Mbabane Police station until such time that they have been dealt with according to Section 5215) (a) in the above-cited act.
The list of the seized items includes a pink and navy blue striped polo golf T-shirt, blue Guess jeans, and light brown sneakers.
