POLOKWANE – Charges of intimidation have been added to the murder case in which Ali and Hamid Salman appeared in court recently.
The father and son, along with their co-accused, Charles Sefoko, a taxi marshal and Papi Ashley Mothapo, a taxi driver, appeared in the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court on charges of murder, contravention of the Immigration Act and having fraudulent South African identity documents.
Read more: Murder accused: ‘I am not hiding from the cops’
A statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) states that during their bail hearing proceedings, Ali and Hamid Salman intimidated the acting senior public prosecutor, Andisa Mudau in court.
Spokesperson for the NPA, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed that they have opened a case of intimidation with the police.
“The NPA condemns the actions of the accused and will not tolerate any intimidation against our staff, so they can continue delivering on their vital mandate to deliver justice to the people of South Africa without fear, favour or prejudice.”
The four suspects were initially apprehended on a charge of murder after it was alleged that on December 14, in the Polokwane CBD next to the Nelson Mandela bridge, the four accused assaulted Ishmael Selowa of Ga Mamathepa Bolobedu.
Read more: Local crime fighters in the dock for murder
Witnesses took the injured man to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Sefoko and Mothapo were released on R1 000 bail each while the bail application of Salman and Ali continues.
During their bail application appearances both applicants submitted their affidavit stating that they are in the country legally. Hamid confirmed that he has a South African identity document.
The accused appeared in court on Thursday (March 24).
