Mahikeng – Agnes Setshwantsho, the 49-year-old woman accused of the murder of a relative to collect a R3 million insurance payout, has been remanded in custody while the court mulls over her bail application.
Since her arrest last year on 16 November, the accused has made several unsuccessful attempts to be freed on bail.
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In Setshwantsho’s latest bail bid, the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on Monday deferred the ruling to later this week.
This after the state and the defence attorney completed their closing arguments, following testimony by the investigating officer and the correctional nurse from the facility, where the accused is detained.
Setshwantsho is facing a charge of murder, two of fraud, and one of defeating the ends of justice.
The accused’s lawyer tried to persuade the court that his client suffers from a chronic disease that requires her to have access to medicine that had to be stored in a fridge.
However, the prosecutor argued that the accused was facing serious charges and was therefore a flight risk.
The prosecutor pointed out that the accused has relatives in Botswana.
Setshwantsho’s lawyer said she was not going to flee the country as she was prepared to hand over her passport.
The court remanded the accused in custody after it adjourned the matter to Friday, (19 January 2024), when it will deliver a ruling on her bail application.
Meanwhile, police said investigations continue into suspicions the accused may have orchestrated the deaths of other relatives for insurance payouts.
Media reports said Setshwantsho’s son died in July 2023, seven years after her husband passed away in 2016. She also lost two daughters in 2015 and 2005.
