News / National
Couple fleeing SA xenophobic attacks arrested at Zim border post
30 Nov 2013 at 03:20hrs | Views
A Somali couple fleeing xenophobic attacks that have resurfaced in South Africa were arrested at the Plumtree Border Post while attempting to illegally enter the country with the assistance of a Zupco bus crew.
Abshir Abdiemi (25) and his wife Ekran Hamed Ali (23) were on their way to Harare. On reaching the Plumtree Border Post they remained in the bus as per an arrangement with the bus crew.
The bus crew submitted a passenger list to the authorities, which did not contain the names of the Somalis. However, an immigration official received a tip-off on the presence of the two foreigners, leading to their arrest and that of two members of the Zupco crew.
Abdiemi told the magistrate, Mr Livard Philemon that they fled the neighbouring country where they had sought asylum after a rowdy mob shot and killed his brother and burnt their shop to ashes, which was their source of livelihood.
He said they fled from Somalia to South Africa after rebels in the country destroyed their home. Prosecuting, Mr Paul Mpofu explained how the illegal immigrants attempted to enter the country illegally.
On 27 November the Somalis boarded a Zupco bus with the registration number ACQ 0424 from Francistown, Botswana to Harare.
On arrival at the Plumtree Border Post around 6pm they remained in the bus as per arrangement with the bus crew.
When the immigration officers were informed of the presence of the two foreigners they conducted a search of the bus and discovered that the Somalis did not have travel documents. They also realised that they had not been captured on the passenger list.
The Somalis were arrested on the spot along with the bus conductor, Blessing Mutimhima (31) and the bus loader, Daniel Sitono( 27).
They were all convicted on their own of plea of guilty by Mr Philemon. They were each charged a fine of $100 or 30 days in prison.
Abshir Abdiemi (25) and his wife Ekran Hamed Ali (23) were on their way to Harare. On reaching the Plumtree Border Post they remained in the bus as per an arrangement with the bus crew.
The bus crew submitted a passenger list to the authorities, which did not contain the names of the Somalis. However, an immigration official received a tip-off on the presence of the two foreigners, leading to their arrest and that of two members of the Zupco crew.
Abdiemi told the magistrate, Mr Livard Philemon that they fled the neighbouring country where they had sought asylum after a rowdy mob shot and killed his brother and burnt their shop to ashes, which was their source of livelihood.
He said they fled from Somalia to South Africa after rebels in the country destroyed their home. Prosecuting, Mr Paul Mpofu explained how the illegal immigrants attempted to enter the country illegally.
On 27 November the Somalis boarded a Zupco bus with the registration number ACQ 0424 from Francistown, Botswana to Harare.
On arrival at the Plumtree Border Post around 6pm they remained in the bus as per arrangement with the bus crew.
When the immigration officers were informed of the presence of the two foreigners they conducted a search of the bus and discovered that the Somalis did not have travel documents. They also realised that they had not been captured on the passenger list.
The Somalis were arrested on the spot along with the bus conductor, Blessing Mutimhima (31) and the bus loader, Daniel Sitono( 27).
They were all convicted on their own of plea of guilty by Mr Philemon. They were each charged a fine of $100 or 30 days in prison.
Source - Zim Metro
