Kopong murder accused interfers with witnesses
Larona Makhaiza | Monday January 30, 2023 06:00
Outlwile is accused of interfering with one of his sons who is a witness in the murder trial. Outlwile is accused together with three others for the murder of his wife, Barulaganye Aston in Kopong last year.
Barulaganye was a teacher in Kopong. Earlier, one of the accused Leufty Kosie was also pointed out as interfering with witnesses.
The State prosecutor, Seeletso Oekeditse informed Magistrate Lobby Moilatshimo that the Investigating Officer, Quiet Jelamato revealed to her that there is another matter of interference with witnesses. Moilatshimo called Jelamato to the stand to corroborate the information proffered by the prosecutor relating to the interference with witnesses.
Jelamato confirmed that there has been continuation of interference with the witness by the accused. “On the 12th of January 2023, I received a report from Thato Aston, a child of Outlwile Aston, who revealed he received a call from a certain man called Philip Molwantwa whom he knows but they are not close, and this man asked Thato questions that did not sit well with him,” Jelamato said.
It is said Molwantwa had paid a visit to Outlwile at prison, and after coming back from Outlwile who is said to be his cousin, then called Thato the child to the third accused Outlwile to ask him questions that did not sit well with Thato. Jelamato said Thato revealed to him that Molwantwa asked him where he resides, and Thato did answer him telling him that he resides in Mogoditshane.
After asking Thato where he resides, Molwantwa further asked him where his siblings reside, and he also answered the question by saying Tlokweng, but Thato stopped entertaining Molwantwa’s questions when he wanted to know if they were there during the time of the commission of the scene, and if they saw their father at the crime scene, Jelamato added.
After the phone call with Molwantwa it is said Thato felt uneasy. “Thato did not take kindly to those questions as he felt he was being threatened. Philip wanted to know where he stays together with his siblings, and if they saw their father at the crime scene, and was wondering what the guy wanted to do with the information,” Jelamato revealed.
Jelamato said he did not take lightly what Thato shared with him, as he recorded the statement, and carried investigations to see if indeed there was communication between the two. Jelamato said he manage to get access of the Orange Data calls, and indeed got to verify that Molwantwa made a call to Thato, and that is when Jelamato started tracing Molwantwa.
“After confirming that there was indeed communication between the two, I started tracing Molwantwa and arrested him on Monday and asked him questions,” he said. Jelamato went on to add that Molwantwa did not deny calling Thato, or asking him the questions or even paying his father a visit at prison but he said Molwanta failed to give him a reason as to why he asked such questions.
Though Molwantwa did not give Jelamato the answers he was looking for, it is said he then made a shocking revelation that there was a cellphone number pestering him also regarding Outlwile. “Molwantwa said to me the man of a certain number was sent by Aston, and this man wanted to check if Aston bank accounts have money,” he said. “He also wanted to know where the children stay and Molwantwa then asked the guy who he is and the guy refused to disclose his identity,” he added.
Furthermore, Jelamato said he is currently carrying out an investigation to discover who the number belongs to, but what he has only disclosed thus far is that there has been communication between Molwantwa and the said number. After Jelamato gave his statement, Ookeditse said this is one of the reasons why the accused should continue to be remanded in prison, as they continue to pester the witnesses and people could only suspect what they could do once they have the freedom. The other accused in the matter are Oageng Moagi Letsholo and Kebaleboge Ntsebe. The accused are expected back in court on February 6.