09 November, 2012 12:01:00

http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=45115

A South African man who was arrested for being in possession of an undeclared sum of E27 000 has been set free by the Magistrate Court.

In addition, the court also ordered that the money be restored back to him.

Lindokuhle Khumalo was charged under a new law, the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011.

The law stipulates that all incoming and departing money exceeding E15 000 must be declared.

The Swazi police then arrested Khumalo and charged him with the said law and further seized his E27 000.

His lawyer, Melusi Simelane successfully argued that the Swaziland police had failed to prove that the money came from South Africa.

“I submit that the money never came from South Africa but it was obtained locally, and further more here in Swaziland we use South Africa notes and coins,” said lawyer Simelane.

The case was then dismissed as local police failed to prove that the money had came from South Africa.

Khumalo was given back his E27 000 and acquitted.

Khumalo was arrested while at Mkhondvo in the Shiselweni region.

He appeared in the Nhlangano Magistrate Court before Magistrate Mandla Mkhaliphi yesterday.

According to a police detective, Khumalo was arrested during a routine police road block.

The police officer had earlier told the court that the money was kept in a black plastic bag. Khumalo claimed he had been sent by his father in South Africa to collect money owed to him by one Shadrack Mnisi of Pigg’s Peak.