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Rachel Kutumela and her co-accused in court for a bail application hearing after being accused of insurance fraud and murder of nine people.
Eight accused in an insurance-related murder will this morning apply for bail in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo.
The matter was postponed on Tuesday to allow the accused to get legal aid.
The group is linked to a syndicate which allegedly fraudulently claimed more than R10-million in insurance payouts.
Former police officer Rachel Kutumela, who was a nurse at Lebowakgomo Hospital, is the alleged leader of the group, which is accused of orchestrating the deaths of nine people.
The accused, Rachel Kutumela’s brothers, Johannes, Thomas, William and Robert Shokane, her husband and school principal, David Kutumela, her cousin, Damaris Selepe, traditional healer, Benedictor Mataba, and Martha Ruiters, have sought new lawyers.
Their former lawyers withdrew their services due to non-payment.
The accused are facing up to forty-seven charges each, including nine counts of murder, fraud, money laundering and receiving the proceeds of unlawful activities, among others. -Reporting by Vutivi Maluleke
