The trial around the kidnapping and suspected murder of 79-year-old Portuguese businessman Almor Oliveira has begun.
The suspect, Quing Ming He (46) of Asian origin took to the accused dock at the High Court of eSwatini where he revealed how three people,also of Asian origin, allegedly paid him to coordinate the plot that led to Oliveira’s kidnapping and illegally smuggled into Mozambique.
Despite having narrated some of the events leading to Oliveira’s disappearance, the suspect has not shed light whether the captive was still alive or not.
The state declared Oliveira dead, considering that he disappeared without trace on April 16, 2017, hence the murder charge leveled against Ming He.
The state has paraded three witnesses so far, Kavin Weing Ming Fa and Mxolisi Hlophe.
The trial continues on Friday.
Ming He was initially arrested together with his wife Zheng Renmel, 44, and Dao Thanta Hue, 36, who is Vietnamese.
The two women were released after spending two months in custody while Ming He was deniedbail on grounds that he was a flight risk.
BM/as/APA