adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
TWO Egyptians, who sneaked into the country through Beitbridge Border Post, ran out of luck when they were arrested by alert detectives.
Mahmoud Elmelighy Elshiki, 29, and Khaled Adly Asdelwahab Sallam, 26, both of Gharbeya area, were arrested on Wednesday morning at Engen Service Station in the border town.
The two men’s trial failed to kick off on Friday at the Beitbridge magistrate courts after the state failed to an Arabic translator.
The Assistant Regional Immigration Officer in charge of southern region (Beitbridge) Charles Gwede said the duo has been sent to Harare pending deportation to their home country.
The pair is accused of contravening the Immigration Act and failure to apply for a visa at the port of entry.
Their passports A09106534 and A08581881 had not been cleared by the immigration officers.
Prosecuting, Jabulani Mberesi, told the court that the two arrived in the country from South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post on January 8.
“Upon their arrival at the border post, the two men did not make efforts to complete immigration formalities,” said Mberesi.
They, however, ran out lucky when they were picked up by detectives who were acting on a tip-off.
The pair was asked to produce their travel documents and it was discovered that they were illegal immigrants leading to their arrest.
The arrest comes a few weeks after the Department of immigration raised concern over the influx of illegal immigrants especially those from countries from the Horn of Africa who willing violate the law with the assistance of international syndicates.
Online Reporter