The case against the six suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs has been postponed to next Tuesday because the investigating officer in the case is sick.
The investigating officer in the case, detective Sgt. Nare Benedict Moloto, was supposed to testify in court and give more information about the “hiding place” where the suspects were arrested. He was to also give more information on accused number four Franky Xaba’s pending case of possession of stolen goods (car parts), opened against him in February.
Ndumiso Ndura Moswane (26), Fernando Nando Sive (25), Nhlakanipho Dlamini (21), Franky Xaba (25), Maredi Mphahlele (36), and Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu (31) made their fifth appearance at the Roodepoort magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Their case was back in court for the continuation of their bail application. The state is opposing their bail application.
The suspects face charges of murder (common purpose) and robbery with aggravating circumstances. They also face a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
Detective sick with severe cough
During court proceedings on Tuesday, state prosecutor Paseka Temeki said Moloto, who was present in court, is sick with a cough and his voice is not audible enough for him to testify.
Temeki said it is highly unlikely that Moloto would have recovered from his cough by Friday. He asked the court that the matter be postponed to next week Tuesday. Moloto is expected to be feeling better by then. And he will be in a position to come to court and testify, said Temeki.
Lawyers representing the suspects did not oppose Temeki’s request for a postponement.
Magistrate Delise Smith postponed the matter to May 14 for Moloto to come and testify in court.
During the start of their bail application last month, the suspects told the court that they did not kill Fleurs and did not rob him of his car. They told the court that the state’s case against them is weak. Therefore it cannot link them to the crimes they are accused of committing, they said.
Suspects admitted to be in possession of hijacked car
According to Moloto’s affidavit, Moloto said police obtained statements from the suspects. They admitted to being in possession of Fleurs’ red VW Golf 8 GTI vehicle so that they could strip it and sell its parts. The affidavit was read in court last week by Temeki in a bid to oppose the suspects’ bail application.
Moloto said the suspects claimed that they saw Fleurs’ car parked in front of someone’s yard for days. That’s when they decided to take it for their own benefit. He said the keys to Fleurs’ car were in the possession of the suspects.
The six suspects were arrested in Slovoville, Soweto, four weeks ago.
Hijacking syndicate in Gauteng
According to police, Fleurs’ luxury red VW Golf 8 GTI vehicle was recovered four weeks ago.
Police said they believe that the six suspects are part of a syndicate responsible for car hijackings in Gauteng. The search for more suspects is continuing.
Two armed men shot and killed Fleurs on April 3 during a hijacking. This happened at the Shell petrol station at the Constantia service centre in Florida, Roodepoort, in Johannesburg.
