WATCH: Rachel Kutumela questioned over murder charges
During the ongoing bail hearing, Rachel Kutumela was questioned on count 15 of her charges which relates to the death of her uncle.
POLOKWANE – The bail hearing of Sgt Rachel Kutumela (43) continues in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today where she will be cross questioned over the charges against her.
Kutumela, dubbed Rosemary 2.0 by the public, was arrested on October 10 following a lengthy investigation by Captain Keshi Mabunda on allegations that she fraudulently benefited from funeral, accidental and life police cover from various banks and insurance companies.
She faces six counts of premeditated murder, 12 counts of fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
During the first session, Kutumela was questioned by her legal counsel on count 15 of her charges. This count relates to her late uncle (her mother’s younger brother), who was found dead in the streets of Mmotong.
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Ephraim Choshi who died on August 1, 2021 in his late 50’s, worked at a local shop as a cleaner.
Kutumela told the court that she took policies for Choshi because she felt compelled as there was no one to take care of her family members at the time.
“I had to take policies because I know the pain of not having a dignified funeral. My mother could not bury my father and his burial was painful to watch. My grandmother also died and her burial was also not easy on the eye. It was painful. That’s how I learned to insure my family members to avoid the bad look, including my late uncle who was like a brother to me and a child to my mother,” she said.
The hearing continues as Kutumela also appears alongside her sister Raesetja Annah Shokane (47) and her daughter, Modjadji Florah Shokane (27).
The duo were arrested on October 17 in Makgofe village, Moletjie for the alleged roles they played in the death of six people for a payout of R10m in insurance policy funds.
Read more: VIDEO: Multiple charges for Rachel Kutumela’s arrested family
They were charged with 25 counts including receiving proceeds from unlawful activities, while money laundering charges apply to Kutumela and her daughter, the third accused.
From the five luxury vehicles allegedly bought with a portion of the payout, a police insider has revealed to the Polokwane Review-Observer that several were registered in Modjadji’s name.
Read more in next week’s Polokwane Observer.
