Nigerian fined E500 for contravening Immigration Act
SITEKI – A 33-yearold Nigerian national yesterday appeared at the Siteki Magistrates Court, facing two counts of contravening the Immigration Act No. 17 of 1982.
Gemanam Chris Iorliam appeared before Magistrate Machawe Gama.
In the first count, the accused was charged for the offence of contravening Section 14 91) (d) of the Immigration Act No. 17 of 1982, in that on March 3, 2024, at King Mswati III International Airport in the Lubombo Region, the said accused was allegedly found in possession of a forged visa on entering into Eswatini.
In count two, the accused was charged for contravening Section 14 (1) (2) of the Immigration Act No. 17 of 1982 in that on March 3, 2024 at the King Mswati III International Airport in the Lubombo Region, the said accused is alleged to have unlawfully entered the Kingdom of Eswatini without a valid permit.
He pleaded not guilty to both counts and mitigated that he obtained the documents from an officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs without knowledge that they were forged.
The Nigerian national informed the court that he was a student at a tertiary institution in his home country and they were due to open on March 24, 2024.
The Crown moved an application that the accused be remanded in custody pending his departure as per his plea.
Advised
Magistrate Bhembe advised the accused that in the future, he had to apply for proper documentation.
He further sentenced the accused to two months imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine fixed at E500 for each count.
The sentence will run consecutively.
The magistrate further ordered the investigating officer to allow the accused to use a phone to contact his relative and will remain detained at the Big Bend Correctional Services, pending his departure on the said date of March 11.
In another matter, Sandziso Ronald Maziya (24) of Moyeni area appeared in court charged with attempted murder in that on March 2, 2024 at Siteki in the Lubombo Region, the accused allegedly attempted to kill Mcolisi Manana by stabbing him with a sharp object on the body.
He was remanded in custody pending the committal to the High Court.
The accused is expected to return to court next week Tuesday.
He was advised to move a bail application through his attorney at the High Court.