Cop shot by businessman

MANZINI – A businessman’s intent on protecting his business from looters during the recent political unrest resulted in a police officer being accidentally shot.

The officer was on duty when he was shot on the leg by the businessman.

The police officer, who i s alleged t o have been accidentally shot at close range with a pellet gun, is said to have arrived at the business premises in Matsapha with the intention to maintain peace and order amid the violent political unrest which took place almost three weeks ago.

The unrest resulted in various business establishments being looted, vandalised and some burnt.

Information reliably gathered is to the effect t hat t he businessman, who was guarding his business from looters who had surrounded t he complex with t he alleged intention to loot the shops located there, discharged the weapon blindly, as he tried to deter the looters from entering his premises.

While guarding his premises faced with a sea of alleged looters, the businessman discharged the weapon, accidentally injuring a number of looters, and the officer, who is said to have sustained injuries to his legs.

Upon sustaining the injuries, the officer is said to have alerted his colleagues, who rushed him to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial ( RFM) Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that a businessman a c c i d e n t a l l y s h o t a p o l i c e o f f i c e r i n Matsapha, while the entrepreneur was guarding his business following incidents of looting in the area.

Vilakati said the businessman was not arrested after the incident, as it was ascertained that the weapon was accidentally discharged, and had not been intended to be fired.

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