Mahikeng (Mafikeng) – Agnes Setshwantsho – the woman accused of partaking in an insurance scam that involved the murder of her relative – has been remanded in custody.
Setshwantsho appeared in the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, where her lawyer pleaded for her release on bail.
The lawyer read an affidavit on behalf of the accused, stating reasons why she should be granted bail.
The accused said she was on chronic medication, which needed to be stored under particular conditions that were not available to her while incarcerated.
However, the investigating officer, Sergeant Kheshi Mabunda, countered with reasons why the accused should not be released on bail.
Sergeant Mabunda said, among other anomalies, that the accused provided a false address when she was profiled.
The false address was the same one the accused allegedly used when she opened insurance accounts.
The investigating officer also told the court that storage facilities were available to preserve the accused’s chronic medication.
Setshwantsho is facing a charge of murder, two of fraud, and one of defeating the ends of justice.
The South African Police (SAPS) reports that on 16 November 2023, a
n intelligence operation led to the arrest of the accused on suspicion that she murdered her relatives to benefit from insurance claims.
The suspect was traced and arrested in Centurion.
The takedown operation was led by the SAPS in collaboration and full cooperation with an insurance company.
The SAPS further reported that in the past two months, Sergeant Keshi Mabunda and a team of detectives have been working on the case following a tip-off from relatives about the accused’s alleged nefarious activities.
The police found out that a female relative of the accused died in Mmabatho, in the North West, under mysterious circumstances in March 2023.
Through analysis and collection of evidence, including the exhumation of a body, the SAPs-led team was able to link Setshwantsho to the murder case.
The police report said the murder that triggered the probe had initially been ruled as a “natural death”.
Investigations have since revealed that the accused fraudulently took out insurance on behalf of her relative before she was murdered.
Police are conducting further investigations with the possibility of adding more charges against the accused.
Setshwantsho’s bail hearing was adjourned to next week and will continue on Wednesday, (20 December 2023). Meanwhile, the accused will remain in police custody.
