“Case against Limpopo trio accused of insurance fraud is weak” – SABC News
The bail application of the Limpopo police officer who stands accused of insurance murders, together with her co-accused, has been postponed to Friday.
Former police sergeant, Rachel Kutumela, and her sister Anna Shokane and daughter, Florah Shokane, were applying for bail at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Shokane’s lawyer, Mukona Maiwashe, has denied that she took out policies on the lives of the people she stands accused of killing.
Maiwashe was cross-examining the investigating officer in the case, Captain Keshi Mabunda.
Maiwashe further indicated that Florah Shokane was not a beneficiary of any of the policies that were taken out until her mother, Rachel, was flagged by the ombudsman.
“I put it to you that applicant number three is not a beneficiary from the date that the policy was taken until when she was told by the consultant and the stepfather to say due to the fact that it was red-flagging, therefore, applicant number three must be used as a beneficiary. She was not yet a beneficiary.”
The defence lawyer also argued that the state’s case against the three accused is weak.
“You confirmed that most of these charges are based on circumstantial evidence. Now all 32 counts date to two years and some three or five years ago. Now, you would agree that it would mean that if they are granted bail and (that if) strict conditions are given to them, they will adhere to them because they have never dishonoured any condition that was given to them by any court because they are first-time offenders.”
Meanwhile, Captain Mabunda told the court that the accused’s decision to earlier abandon bail and later resume has led to unprecedented delays.
The bail application has been postponed for closing arguments.