Police to seek heavy sentence for devious trio
The South African Police Service in Limpopo on Monday will be demanding heavy sentences for a couple and an associate on trial for 53 charges, which include murder, attempted murder, robbery, fraud, theft, racketeering and possession of drugs.
The call comes after the end of a marathon trial which commenced in February 2012 at the Polokwane High Court against Thomas Mothwa (43), his wife Refilwe Mothwa (41) and their associate Jan Mohlala (58). The trio is accused of playing a leading role in targeting elderly people in the rural areas of Limpopo and North West accosting them at or near the banks after they had withdrawn money.
The couple would approach victims under the pretext of knowing them, offering them a lift in their motor vehicle. The unsuspecting victims will then be offered a spiked soft drink and upon losing consciousness, they would steal their bank cards and banking details, identity documents and any other valuables. The victims would then be dumped along the road or thrown from a bridge or into a river and left for dead.
The couple would then enlist Mohlala and other unknown suspects to make withdrawals inside banks by replacing the photograph in the victims’ ID books with that of their associates or other accomplices, allowing them to misrepresent bank officials that they are the rightful owners and make withdrawals at various banks and ATM’S.
Their evil deeds started in 2000 and were finally halted by the police in 2007 leaving four victims dead, while two other victims James Molomo and George Moshoana bodies are yet to be accounted for and many others defrauded of their hard earned money. Both Molomo and Moshoana are presumed dead.
For enquiries:
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi
Cell: 082 373 2408
