Acting DPP appeals ex-minister
MBABANE - The Crown contends that the aggregate term of the sentence of 20 years imposed on former Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ntuthuko Dlamini is disproportionate to the gravity of the three murder offences he was convicted of.
The Acting Director of 3ublic 3rosecutions D33 /omvula Hlophe, has since filed an application for a certificate to appeal against the Mudgment that was issued by -udge Maxine /angwenya. In the application, the acting D33 gives reasons why the &rown feels the Mudge erred in many aspects when she sentenced the former legislator.
This means that Ntuthuko now has a mammoth task to argue why the Supreme &ourt should not alter his sentences.
The former /aMgabhi Member of 3arliament M3 was sentenced to 5 years imprison ment for the murder of three members of the /uyengweni Inner &ouncil and being found in possession of an illegal firearm.
)or killing Sikhulu Shongwe, who was 0 years old in September , 0 0, Simon Dlamini
1 and Themba Tsabed]e 5 , Ntuthuko was sentenced to 0 years imprisonment for each murder.
Possession
He was also sentenced to five years imprison ment with an option of a fine of E5 000 for being found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
In total, -udge /angwenya sentenced the former minister to 5 years imprisonment. However, the Mudge ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, which means that he will spend 0 years behind bars. In her appli cation to be granted the certificate to appeal, the acting D33 contended that the court erred in ordering the sentences to run concurrently instead of consecutively.
A µconcurrent sentence’ means that the convict serves the terms at the same time. A µconsecutive sentence,’ in contrast, means the convict com pletes the sentences one after another
Hlophe went on to aver that, the court erred in finding that Ntuthuko had intention in the form of dolus evntualis instead of direct intention.
Dolus eventualis, means the intent in which the perpetrator sees an outcome as a possibility and continues with it.
*iving a background of the matter, Hlophe submitted that, Ntuthuko was convicted on December 1 , 0 and sentenced on March 15, 0 for three counts of murder and one of contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act No. of 1 . She highlighted that, on each count of murder, he was sentenced to 0 years imprisonment and on the count of contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act he was sentenced