Arrested Galp supervisors confident of acquittal
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MBABANE – The two supervisors of Yith’Abantu Galp Filling Station, who have been arrested for allegedly stealing E774 087.18 from their employer, say they are confident of an acquittal.
The theft was committed from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. The filling station is situated in Hlatikhulu in the Shiselweni Region.
Sandile Mangwe (25) of Mbulungwane under Chief Mabonya and Pedro Shikwambane (32) of Nhlazatshe in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), have been charged with theft.
According to the charge sheet, the two were servants of Yith’Abantu Galp Filling Station and were entrusted with the custody and care of money, which belonged to the employer.
The money is said to have come to the business on account of their employer.
Steal
They are alleged to have acted jointly and in furtherance of a common purpose to steal the amount of E774 087.18, which was in lawful possession of the filling station.
The pair was arrested Wednesday by Hlatikhulu
They appeared at the Shiselweni Magistrates Court in Nhlangano and the Crown applied that they be remanded in custody pending setting of their trial date on August 14, 2023.
In their application for bail at the High Court yesterday, Mangwe informed the court that he was innocent of the charge.
He said he would plead guilty during the trial.
“I will be able to exonerate myself when my case goes to trial because I have not committed the offence as alleged.
I respectfully submit further that I am very confident that I have a very strong case against the Crown, hence I feel that my continued detention is very much unfair and not in the interest of justice, taking into account all the surrounding circumstances of my case,” said Mangwe.
He also told the court that he was asthmatic and the conditions at the Correctional centre were not conducive for him as he slept on the floor and was detained with smokers.
Deteriorate
on police. not
He submitted that he was apprehensive that his health condition would deteriorate due to the conditions at the Correctional facility.
His co-accused, Shikwambane, filed a confirmatory affidavit and also disputed that he was involved in the alleged theft. He informed the court that he was also confident that he would be exonerated.
The accused persons were represented by Sabelo Makhubu of Makhubu-Mdluli Attorneys in Nhlangano.
Their application for bail was heard by Judge Khontaphi Manzini.
The court granted Mangwe’s application for bail and fixed his bail amount at E50 000.
He was ordered to pay E5 000 in cash and provide surety for the balance.
The Crown opposed Shikwambane’s application and he is still detained at a Correctional facility.
Shikwambane was said to be working in South Africa before he was posted to the country. He was working for the same company.
The duo was investigated by auditors from November 2022 after a trend of deficits was noted in their every day banking.
It is alleged that the money was collected by a security company, who when they went to bank it, they would notice shortfalls of between E10 000 up to E20 000 per banking.
It was further gathered that the duo had customers who allegedly took fuel on credit and paid them privately.
The inconsistencies were noted by an auditor and this led to the investigation. They were investigated from November 1, 2022 until April 30, 2023.
raping
Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping his lover’s daughter, who is 17 years old.
*Lucas allegedly committed the offence between 2021 and 2022 in the Shiselweni Region and the Republic of South Africa.
The offence, according to the charge sheet, was accompanied by aggravating circumstances in that the minor was exposed to sexually transmitted illnesses and the alleged perpetrator is her mother’s lover, as a result he stands as her parent.
The accused is currently in custody at Nhlangano Correctional Services after the Crown opposed his application for bail.
The matter was heard yesterday.
Lucas disputed that he committed the offence. He said the complainant was the daughter of his girlfriend.
“I am innocent of the charge against me and I will plead not guilty to same and, pending the hearing of my trial,
“I am desirous of being admitted to bail as I have great prospects of success as I have a good defence to the charge,” said Lucas.
He is represented by Noncedo Ndlangamandla of Mabila Attorneys.
The matter is pending before Judge Khontaphi Manzini.