Investigations continue in �grave robbers� case
Staff Writer | Thursday December 8, 2016 17:11
The case involves the bribing of an Omang officer and false information given to public officers, as well as obtaining by false pretences.
Bhekizwe Nkomazana, from Zimbabwe, is being held in remand, while his Batswana co-accused are out on bail, in the alleged scheme to rob businessman, Solomon Tlhapane.
Yesterday, the prosecutor in the matter pleaded with the court to further remand Nkomazana as investigations are still ongoing. Magistrate Ntombizodwa Ncube ruled that Nkomazana be further remanded and appear with the rest of accused persons on December 16.
Present in court was Tlhapane’s daughter Itumeleng and several senior citizens who were close to the late 89-year-old.
Tlhapane was buried a fortnight ago, with family representative Oupa Matsepe reading a letter from Rustenburg Rusoord, an old age home in Rustenburg where the family only discovered he had been taken to after police investigations.
“Tlhapane was admitted on February 25 2016. He was suffering from a mild illness and was taken to a doctor where he was discharged on March 14. He was admitted again in June when he could not eat by himself. He became very weak and passed away on August 10,” Matsepe read from the letter.
Although the letter stated that family was informed and went to collect Tlhapane, Matsepe outrightly dismissed the statement, saying no bona fide family member had been informed.
Police believe Nkomazana, who was the businessman’s long-term gardener, capitalised on the death and, masquerading as the deceased’s next of kin, hid the death, secured an Omang and milked funds from his late employer.