Lawyer: Zweli forced to record statement
MBABANE – Former MP Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane’s son, Zweli, has accused investigators of forcing him to record and sign a statement.
His attorney, Lucky Howe yesterday told the High Court, during Zweli and his co-accused’s remand hearing, that his client disassociated himself from the contents of the statement.
“He was forced to sign it. Since this is our first appearance, let us place it on record that he (Zweli) dissociates himself from the statement. He was forced to sign the thing against his will.
“Come the day of the matter, we will deal with it. He was forced to write the statement which he does not agree with. The conditions under which he was made to sign it will remain in the evidence. The forcing of people to do things must not happen.
Caution
“May the court please caution them, and the attempt to intimidate them is not going to work. Tell them My Lord that an attorney is an officer of the court, respect him. My colleague who had been instructed before me will tell his story. May we please lower the tempo and let us all do our jobs,” submitted Howe.
Judge Bongani Sydney Dlamini said if the accused had been forced to record or sign a statement, attorneys knew how to challenge that.
Meanwhile, while most attorneys shied away from representing people who were facing terrorism charges, three attorneys appeared in court yesterday on behalf of the three men who were arrested on Thursday evening.
The accused are Zweli, who is the son of former Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane. His co-accused are Economic Freedom Fighters Swaziland member Siphosethu Malinga and Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) member Mxolisi Jabulani Simelane.
Remand
They were all represented when they appeared for the first remand hearing at the High Court yesterday. Zweli is represented by Howe and Human Rights Lawyer Thabiso Mavuso appears for Mxolisi. Professor Dlamini represents Malinga.
All three lawyers told the court that they were denied access to their clients at Mbabane Police Station. Without going into details, they also told the court about the treatment their clients were allegedly subjected to at the police station.
Some lawyers have in the recent past declined to take up matters involving terrorism due a fear of the unknown.
Some of the charges faced by the accused carry a sentence of death or imprisonment for life.