Swaziland: Alleged kidnappers of Portuguese businessman slapped with five charges

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Swaziland: Alleged kidnappers of Portuguese businessman slapped with five charges

8:28 CAT | 03 May 2017

The Swazi Observer / The suspects being helped by police officers as they read through their charge sheets while making their appearance at Mbabane Magistrate's Court

The Asian couple arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Matsapha businessman Olmar Oliveira [Almor Simões Oliveira] has been charged with five counts.

The Asian couple arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Matsapha businessman Olmar Oliveira has been charged with five counts.

Ping Ming (44) of China and his wife Hau Dao aged 33 of Vietnam will spend a week behind bars following Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi’s order that they should be remanded into custody until May 8. The couple was making their first court appearance after being rounded up by police over the weekend.

The couple stands accused of kidnapping Oliveira on April 16.

They are further charged with four counts whereby they allegedly contravened the Arms and Ammunitions Act after being found in possession of a 9mm special revolver loaded with three live rounds of ammunition and Karaty 12 bore shotgun loaded with four rounds of live ammunition.

They allegedly had no licence or permit to posses these weapons and thus contravened the Act.

The couple was arrested while at Ezulwini by the Lobamba police last Friday.

The couple is alleged to be connected to the kidnapping of the business mogul and thus would help the police as investigations proceed.

Suspect kidnapper to get own bed moved into jail

While making her first appearance, the second accused Hau Dao pleaded with the court to consider her poor health as she complained about her spinal cord being problematic.

“I cannot sleep on the beds availed at the correctional services. Can I have my bed taken in with me as my health will suffer,” she said. Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi did not oppose this application as she said the accused person should arrange with the police about her bed being transferred from her home at Ezulwini to the cells.

However, their request to speed up the matter before May 8 hit a snag as the court said it was according to the law. Crown’s Counsel Buddy Masango told the court an interpreter was needed when the two suspects make their second appearance next week as it was difficult for to communicate with them due to their poor English. The suspects had earlier on turned down an offer made by the crown, whereby a police officer would help with interpretation.

They demanded that a neutral person is roped in to do the job.

Ming was handcuffed while in court as he seemed moved by the turn of events whilst his wife also seemed concerned as she moved around court escorted by a number of plain clothed police officers. The suspects asked the court to afford them the chance to secure an attorney to represent them and they promised to come back armed with one on their second appearance. The property businessman was kidnapped on April 16 after his car was found with blood stains at Matsapha. Police officers together with close relatives have conducted prayer sessions as they continue to search for the kidnapped businessman.

Source: The Swazi Observer