Mothoa couple to know their fate next month

THE fate of the Mothoa couple, Thomas (43) from Solomondale and Evah (41) from Seshego, who have been accused of 53 criminal charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping, fraud, theft, racketeering and drug trafficking, after their trial in the Polokwane High Court ended on Monday, will be known on February 13 and 14 when judgement is made.

The couple stands accused of targeting elderly people in the rural areas of Thohoyandou, Musina, Phalaborwa and North West, and accosting them near banks after they had withdrawn money.

State prosecutor, Adv Aby Koalipe, said the Mothoas would approach victims under the pretext of knowing them and offer them a lift in their car. He said the unsuspecting victims would then be offered a spiked softdrink. Once they had lost consciousness, the couple would steal their bank cards, banking details, identity documents and any other valuables. Koalipe said the victims would then be dumped along the road or thrown from a bridge or into the river and left for dead.

He went on to say that the couple would then use the third accused in the case, Jan Mohlala (43) and other unknown people to make withdrawals inside the banks by replacing the photograph in the victims’ ID books.

“Their evil deeds started in 2000 and were finally halted by the police in 2007 leaving four victims dead, while other victims such as James Molomo and George Moshoana’s bodies have not been found yet,” he said.

The three were arrested in November 28, 2007. Mohlala has since pleaded guilty for his part in these crimes and received a five year prison sentence.