TWO more alleged scammers have been apprehended for defrauding unsuspecting members of the public of over E1 million by falsely using the name of Their Majesties.
Emmanuel Thulane Mhlanga (51) of Ngculwini, and Nhlanhla Lucky Dlamini (39) of Moneni appeared before Principal Magistrate David Khumalo at the Manzini Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where they were charged with multiple counts of fraud-related offences.
They are facing 18 charges, including theft by false pretences, contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 2018, the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, and the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act No. 6 of 2022.
According to the charge sheet, Mhlanga is alleged to have misrepresented to one Sabelo Siyabonga Maziya that land was being sold by the Royal Household.
Acting on this misrepresentation, Maziya allegedly paid E57 000 to Mhlanga. The accused knew there was no such land on sale and intentionally induced the complainant to suffer a financial loss.
In another count of theft by false pretences, Dlamini is accused of falsely presenting himself to former Senator Ndileka Dlamini as a person assigned by His Majesty King Mswati III to summon her regarding a job opportunity intended to support orphans.
It is alleged that, through this deception, Dlamini obtained E22 806.94 from the complainant, despite knowing that he had not been assigned by anyone.
Mhlanga is further accused of deceiving Tandzile Mkhabela by claiming that she had been tasked with welcoming Royal visitors at King Mswati III International Airport.
Through this alleged misrepresentation, he is said to have obtained E36 926.26 from the complainant, despite knowing that no such royal assignment existed.
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The court further heard that the accused allegedly promised non-existent tenders to several victims.
One such complainant, Gibson Dlamini, was allegedly misled into believing that he had been awarded a catering tender to supply food to Mpaka Railway employees.
Through this deception, the accused are said to have obtained E515 596 from him, despite knowing that no such tender existed.
In yet another charge, Lokucala Khumalo is alleged to have been defrauded of E318 000 after Mhlanga reportedly promised her a tender to construct staff residential flats at Phuzumoya Oil Reserves.
The prosecution alleges that the accused knew there were no tender documents in existence and nevertheless induced the complainant to part with the money.
Meanwhile, the alleged scammers accused police of torture during the investigation.
Through their lawyers Mathokoza Mbhamali and Machawe Dlamini, the duo claimed officers assaulted them with sticks, fists and suffocated them with plastic bags until they lost consciousness.
They further alleged that the police unlawfully accessed their personal phone calls using confiscated mobile devices.
In response, the defence applied for an order barring the police from interfering with the accused’s calls, arguing that any information accessed should be limited to the ongoing investigation.
Magistrate Khumalo granted the application, ordered medical examinations for the accused and directed their transfer to a correctional facility rather than police holding cells.
The duo was remanded in court until January 20, pending setting of their trial date.
