Limpopo insurance murders: Officer testifies to witness tampering
Police allege sisters Rachel Kutumela and Anna Shokane bribed witnesses and committed insurance fraud to cover their tracks in a detailed court testimony.
POLOKWANE – In the ongoing bail proceedings of Rachel Kutumela and her sister Anna Shokane, investigating officer Captain Keshi Mabunda testified that the pair were denied bail due to alleged interference with ongoing investigations.
Mabunda resumed his cross-examination this week following a postponement on July 2.
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He told the court that both Kutumela and Shokane had previously communicated with state witnesses during Kutumela’s earlier detention at Polokwane SAPS.
“When Kutumela was arrested, she used her defence’s cellphone to contact witnesses. Once we discovered they were interfering with witnesses, they abandoned their bail bid,” he said.
Kutumela’s legal representative Advocate Moses Manthata, meanwhile, alleged that her constitutional rights were violated during the arrest.
Mabunda refuted this, stating that the arresting officers acted within the law.
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“She was arrested by officers from Bochum SAPS and taken to Polokwane SAPS. She had no visible injuries. Her rights were respected,” he told the court.
Mabunda also told the court that he blacklisted the accused from taking out any more insurance policies. However, this reportedly did not deter them from influencing others to do so on their behalf.
He alleged that a key witness, Benedictor Mothata, was persuaded by the accused to open a policy on her ex-husband, despite being unemployed.
“They offered to pay her monthly premiums. When they found out she was giving a statement to police, Anna Shokane hired a lawyer for her and tried to get her to change her statement, claiming it was made under duress,” said Mabunda.
The court was shown bank transfer evidence from Flora Shokane to Mothata’s account, which was later used to debit premiums by an insurance company.
The case continues today (July 24) in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
