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A gavel in a court room.
The bail hearing of three women accused of the insurance-related killings and fraud has been postponed to 28 May by the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo.
The postponement is to allow the defense counsel to access the statements made by the accused.
During the bail application, accused No.: 2, Anna Shokane, told the court that her rights were violated during her arrest.
Anna Shokane, police sergeant Rachel Kutumela and her daughter Flora Shokane, want to be granted bail.
The trio are accused of killing nine people and claimed insurance payouts amounting to R10 million.
Police Sergeant, Rachel Kutumela, Anna Shokone and Kutumela’s daughter Flora Shokane, want to be released on bail.
They’ve been in custody since their arrest in October last year.
Allegedly, the trio benefited more than R10 million in insurance payouts.
All the deceased, are believed to have been known to the accused.
During the bail hearing, Shokane said she is not a flight risk, as she does not possess a passport. She also told the court that she will not interfere with witnesses if granted bail .
Shokane also stated she owns movable property.
“I have four vehicles, two Range Rovers and Land Cruiser, as well as Mercedes Benz. All these are valued at R300,000 and I did not steal any of the money. I can account all this are my money (sic),” she said.
Shokane told court that police forced her to sign a confession statement.
She confirmed that she benefited from her deceased husband’s insurance payout.
However, she said the claims were not fraudulent and she is not guilty of all the charges levelled against her.
“I am saying I am a South African citizen and the charges that are levelled against me I didn’t do it and I am not admitting to it and I will attend my court proceedings until the court finalises the matter,” said told the court.
The matter was postponed to allow both the state and the defence go through the evidence that was given by accused No.: 3, Flora Shokane, during her bail hearing.
Anna Shokane is expected to continue with her testimony when the bail application resumes at the end of this month.
