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The Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo.
The Polokwane Magistrates’ Court in Limpopo has staggered the bail application of the accused in the insurance-related murder and fraud cases.
Some are continuing with the bail application while others had it postponed to Friday this week.
The accused are linked to a syndicate allegedly led by former police officer Rachel Kutumela, which is believed to have benefited more than R10 million in insurance payouts.
They allegedly orchestrated the deaths of nine insured victims.
Magistrate Mpho Gadebe has ruled that one of the accused, Johannes Shokane, undergo mental evaluation as he’s unable to follow the court proceedings.
“This enquiry necessitates it to be a formal enquiry, because sending someone to a psychiatric hospital is not something that I can do will-nilly. There must be substantial evidence that suggests that the accused person is unable to follow proceedings or where he is unable to give you proper instructions to proceed in anything in this matter, that has to be a finding that is given by this court,” says Gadebe.
Meanwhile, the case saw the arrest of five additional suspects.
Details in the report below:
