Man (50) arrested for gambling
MBABANE - A 50-year-old man believes he has no case to answer after he was arrested and charged for gambling at the Mbabane Bus Rank.
Nkosinathi Dlamini was arrested after he was found seated next to three cards chart that he allegedly used to bet for personal gain.
He was arrested by a pair of police officer and warder during their random patrols in the capital city.
Evidence that has been presented in court has pointed out that the officers of the law noticed a group people seated around a concrete table near King Pie. Sergeant Sisho Magagula informed the court that the people who were gathered around the concrete table fled the scene when they saw them approaching.
Money
“We observed that there was a stack of money placed next to the play cards, while the people were still gathered around the table. Dlamini remained at the table as the other people ran in different directions. We approached him before we were joined by a security officer employed by Shield Security,” submitted the police officer.
She told the court that she warned Dlamini about the judge’s rules before charging him with gambling in a public place.
The officer of the law stated that Dlamini then took the three cards and put them in his right pocket. She stated that she then led Dlamini to the police post, where he eventually surrendered the play cards.
Interview
“I took cellphone numbers from the people we found working around the place where Dlamini was seated with the group of people. My intention was to interview them later,” she submitted.
She stated that she charged Dlamini for contravening the Crimes Act of 1889 before she locked him in a cell, pending his court appearance the following morning.
The officer informed the court that even though Dlamini partly cooperated with them, he kept yelling at her, causing unnecessary attention as they walked to the city post.
The play cards were presented in court as part of exhibits.
During cross-examination, Dlamini put it to the police officer that he never bet on the day in question. He said his understanding of betting meant that there must be two or more people to qualify the act. He added that he would have been arrested together with those he was accused of betting with.
Definition
Dlamini had asked the definition of gambling from the Crown before entering a plea.
He stated that he did not want to enter a plea without understanding the true definition of gambling.
“I put it to you that I cannot gamble alone. Where are the other people that I was gambling with?” he asked.
He also put it to Magagula that he told the police officer that the play cards belonged to the people who fled the scene when they saw them coming.
He told Magagula that she arrested and kept him in custody just to spite him.
“You just wanted to deny me my medication,” he claimed.
The matter has been adjourned until July 3, 2023 for continuation.