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MBABANE _ Sandile Sibandze, who also serves as a pastor, says Mlondi Sikhondze ought to have reported the bogus members of the inner council to the police, as opposed to assaulting them.

Sibandze said Sikhondze risked his life, as people who were involved in corrupt activities were always prepared to defend themselves. He said criminals should be reported to the police because law enforcers were eTuipped to deal with all kinds of criminals.

“Even if he doubles as a community police member, corporal punishment is not encouraged because it turns good work into crime. Assault of another person is a crime no matter the circumstance,´ Sibandze said.

“Sale of land on Eswatini 1ational Land is criminal, however, application of corporal punishment on the criminals is the same as correcting the wrong with crime, which then tends to be criminal. ,t is advisable that wrongdoers are reported to the police for the law to take its course,´ added Sibandze.

Human 5ight Lawyer Sipho *umede said by principle, anyone suspected of having committed any crime should be apprehended and handed over to the police without being assaulted. *umedze said the law provided that any person who apprehended suspects should provide the law enforcers with evidence leading to the apprehension of the suspect. He said victims were also e[pected to state their side of the story to the police officers if present.

“Even police officers know that assaulting suspects is against the law. They know that for the arrest to take place, there must be sufficient evidence. :e cannot even call this a mistake but it¶s criminal,´ said *umedze.