Suspects in insurance murders case should be granted bail: Lawyer

The defence lawyer in the case of six people accused in a series of alleged insurance-related murders linked to former police officer Rachel Kutumela says his clients will apply for bail at their next court appearance.
The case of Shokane siblings Thomas and William, David Kutumela, Damaris Selepe, traditional healer Benedictor Mataba, and Martha Ruiters was postponed to March 25 by the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
They are facing 47 charges after allegedly orchestrating the murders of nine people to fraudulently claim insurance payouts worth more than R 10 million.
Their co-accused and the first accused in the matter, former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela, was arrested in 2024.
Adv Moses Manthata maintains that his clients should be granted bail.
Manthata says, “These accused are the first offenders, and being the first offenders means that they don’t have any criminal case against them, so the possibility of them being given bail is available to them. Charges are allegations that must be proven in a court of law. At this moment, we are facing the allegation which need to be approved by the court of law, whether they are true or not.”
VIDEO | Insurance murder case suspect’s bail application set for March 25:

www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/suspects-in-insurance-murders-case-should-be-granted-bail-lawyer/