Bacede will continue working as an MP – Speaker

Mbabane: Speaker in the House of Assembly, Petros Mavimbela, said out on bail Hosea Member of Parliament, Bacede Mabuza will continue coming to parliament to work. He said according to the Constitution arrested persons are innocent until proven guilty.

Mabuza appeared at the Mbabane Magistrates Court charged with eight counts, where alleged that he advised one Siboniso Simelane to prevent police officers from entering into premises belonging to Sifiso Mabuza at Mvutjini in Ezulwini, where they had come to investigate an offence of or in relation to the contravening of the provisions of the Income Tax Order of 1975 as amended.

The MP was granted bail fixed at E5000 by Magistrate Simelane.

The MP also advised Simelane to prevent the officers of the Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) to enter his premises, despite a search warrant. The SRA officers had been at the premises to investigate an offence of or relating to contravening the Income Tax Order of 1975 as amended.

The MP was also charged with contempt of court, where it is alleged that he resisted arrest by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) led by Senior Superintendent Sihlongonyane in the execution of their duties pursuant to a warrant of apprehension authorizing the detention.

It is further alleged that the MP hit 4072 Assistant Superintendent Bhekani Shiba once with a fist on the mouth, resulting in him charged with an offence of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was also accused of threatening to shoot Senior Superintendent Sihlongonyane and the other police officers with his pistol while at Golf Course in Manzini.
During his appearance, his defence team, led by Advocate Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila, wanted to hear the attitude of the Crown before they could move a bail application on behalf of Bacede.

Representing the State in the matter, Ayanda Matsenjwa, submitted that the bail application was not opposed. However, the Crown stated that there must be stringent conditions attached if Bacede wanted to be released on bail.

Matsenjwa submitted that in granting bail, the court should consider that MP Bacede was a custodian of the same legislation which he allegedly violated. He implored the court to fix the bail at an amount that would force the accused person to come to court.

The MP was further advised report to the nearest police station fortnightly if released on bail because some of the alleged offences involved administration of justice and disrespect of the court. In response, Advocate Mabila took the court to the Crown’s

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