Pastor�s Kidnappers May Have Murdered Wife � Police
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday April 3, 2017 18:00
Thapelo Obakeng Tlhase (25), Mokganedi Porogwane (47), Kobamelo Siane (28) and Keneilwe Siane (24) were Thursday last week arraigned and charged with kidnapping robbing an Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) pastor, Reverend Mooketsi Mogomotsi. According to the police, this happened on Monday when Mogomotsi’s kidnappers held him for 12 hours, from 3pm to 3am.
The tragedy is visiting the family in just under four months after the burial of the pastor’s wife who died following a brutal attack by thieves at their Mochudi home. In December 2016, robbers attacked the pastor and his wife in Mochudi.
The wife never recovered from the comma and died a few days later at Intensive Care Unit.
Now the police have not ruled out the possibility that the four men who appeared before Mochudi Magistrate’s Court on Thursday could be linked to the murder of the pastor’s wife.
The police are yet to arrest any suspect relating to the murder incident.
During the week of the pastor’s wife attack, robbers stole P7,000, following a burglary incident at the AFM church.
“It is possible that they could be linked to the previous attack. We can’t rule out the possibility. Investigations are still at an infant stage, so sometimes it becomes difficult to tell whether the suspects are linked to the previous incident,” said Officer Commanding (district no 4), Senior Superintendent Kevin Mookodi.
Mookodi told The Monitor that investigations into both matters are still ongoing.
He said that the current situation could assist them make a breakthrough in the murder case.
The church has remained silent on both matters to allow the police to carry out their investigations.
A church elder, David Morwaagole told The Monitor’s sister publication, Mmegi, that the matter is sensitive, as it is a subject of police investigations.
He said that the national leadership would release a media statement once all investigations have been completed.