The so-called 'mastermind' behind the Mooinooi murders.
Colonel Isaac Tlhape told the court that the police found human bones on the farm of a 52-year-old suspect, the so-called ‘mastermind’ behind the murders, when they were investigating the disappearance of Joey and Anisha, Kormorant reports.
“The bones were sent for tests, and they were positively identified as human bones, but not linked to this case. A body was also found in a drain at a house in Koster where he lived, and a body was found hanging in a tree at his Rustenburg residence. He is also implicated in the murder of a Rustenburg woman in 2014.”
READ MORE: Mooinooi murder bail hearing continues in the Brits court
Tlhape was testifying in the bail application of the eight suspects accused of kidnapping, raping, robbing and murdering two Mooinooi women, Anisha (30) and Joey (32) Van Niekerk in December 2017.
On the prosecutor’s question whether the 52-year-old panelbeater, who rented a workshop on the victims’ farm, should get bail, he said the community would not be safe.
“This a very serious case and we already have one witness in witness protection. Suspect number two allegedly initiated the plan that was executed by all the accused. We have statements that he has a tendency to threaten people with death. More information and witnesses have come forward since the start of the bail application and we have a community member trembling with fear that he might be released on bail,” Tlhape told the court.
He also stated that the accused is a flight risk. “During the investigation we found that he kept a million rand in his house. He may have another million that he can use to flee the country.”
He said the community would not be safe if the accused is released on bail. “All the suspects are fighting among themselves and the community out there is shocked and feel they are not protected.”
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/mooinooi-murder-bail-hearing-continues-in-the-brits-court/
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