Man fined for trespassing

MANZINI - A man was sentenced to spend two years in prison with an option to pay a fine of E2 000 for allegedly trespassing.

Siyabonga Thabo Kunene (29) of Mathendele in the Shiselweni Region, was charged with trespassing, for purportedly entering into the home of Bagas Bilal Salim. This incident happened on April 15, 2022 at Coates Valley.

The accused appeared before Magistrate Philisiwe Simelane at the Manzini Magistrates Court last Friday.

During his appearance in court, the accused was in a wheelchair. His rights to legal representation were explained and he chose his own defence. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Mitigation

The complainant (Salim) told the court that his security guard at the gate was held hostage by the accused person and he took a gun and shot at him.

In his mitigation, the accused said the complainant shot at him four times, which is why he was in a wheelchair. Kunene said he could not get help in hospital and could not afford medication to treat his injury.

In his defence, he said he went into the complainant’s home because he was called by the security guard. He said he was employed at a car wash before the shooting incident. He told the court that he was unmarried and had one child whom he took care of.

Kunene was then sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E2 000.

Meanwhile, Wiseman Mangaliso Hlatshwako (33) of Kantunja, was slapped with two counts of the Road Traffic Act and one count of Theft of Motor Vehicles Act, Road Traffic Act. He allegedly stole a Honda Fit vehicle from a garage.

Hlatshwako appeared before Magistrate Lucia Lukhele at the Matsapha Circuit Court.

In the first count, it was stated that he allegedly stole the white Honda Fit registered DSD 352 DH, valued at E70 000. It was in the lawful possession of Malungelo Nxumalo. This incident happened on February 17, 2022 at Mathangeni.

Registration

In addition, on April 27, the accused reportedly took a vehicle registration plate which did not belong to him but to another motor vehicle, and put it on the stolen car. It was highlighted in the charge sheet that it belonged to another red Honda Fit and the registration number is QSD 369 CH.

In the third count, he is said to have counterfeited the clearance certificate disc of the stolen white Honda Fit sedan. This also happened on April 27.

Hlatshwako was sentenced to two years without an option of a fine in the first count.

He was also sentenced to spend eight months in prison or pay a fine of E1 000 in the second count. In the last count, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment or pay a fine of E1 000. Sentences one and two are to run concurrently.