... granted E15 000 bail

MBABANE – “I will plead not guilty to the offence that has been preferred against me in that as far as I am aware, I never committed same.”

These submissions were made by the former ESRIC employee in his bail application filed by his lawyer at the High Court yesterday.

Narrating events leading to his arrest, Nzunza submitted that on September 21, 2021, he was called by police officers under the Fraud Department at the Mbabane Police Station. He told the court that he went there with his attorney and he (Nzunza) was interrogated regarding a matter that occurred at his former place of employment, Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation (ESRIC). The accused said he was subsequently charged with the offence of fraud.

Remand

“I was then released and was ordered to come back today after my attorney asked that I be released and he undertook to come with me to the Mbabane Police Station so that I may be taken to the Mbabane Magistrates Court for a remand,” submitted Nzunza.

He averred that pending trial of the case against him; he was desirous to be admitted to bail and further undertook to adhere to all bail conditions to be fixed by the court in the event he was admitted to bail.

In motivating his application for bail, Nzunza also brought it to the attention of the court that he was a married man with one minor who attends primary school. He also submitted that he was selfemployed, running a tree felling business and his family was dependent on him for support.

“I aver that there are currently pending charges against me whose complainant is my former employer. I was admitted to bail on those charges by the High Court in 2019 under case No.219/2019. I paid an amount of E3 000 and provided surety of E12 000,” he argued.

Detained

“The matter is urgent in that I am currently detained and I have been deprived of my right to personal liberty to the detriment of my business, which will be affected by my arrest. I am advised that bail by its very nature is urgent,” contended the accused.

Nzunza was admitted to E15 000 bail by Principal Judge Qinisile Mabuza after the Crown indicated that it was not opposing the bail application.

The bail amount was agreed between the Crown and the defence, which the court then made an order of the court.

Nzunza was represented by senior lawyer Sabelo Bhembe while appearing for the Crown was Nomkhosi from the chamber of the director of public prosecutions (DPP).