The nine suspects accused of kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice in Wepener will make their second appearance at the Wepener Magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
OFM News reports, the first appearance was postponed as requested by the state in order to verify the authenticity and validity of the Lesotho nationals’ passports; as among the nine suspects, two are from Lesotho.
The prosecutor also stated that it was prudent for the state to be offered an opportunity to also verify the addresses of the suspects because it is unclear if the suspects were arrested at their residential places. However, the police are still on the hunt for six more suspects linked to this case.
OFM News previously reported that according to the Free State police spokesperson, Thabo Covane, the body which was dug up by police is believed to be of one of the three men that were kidnapped and assaulted by a group of people at the Caledon River at the Jammerdrift Farm on 24 September 2021.
Of the three, only two were returned to their homes and the third one was last seen lying motionless at the river. Covane previously explained the kidnapping is what can be regarded as an act of vigilantism, as the three victims were allegedly accused of committing robberies at foreign-owned stores in Qibing.
The Free State police in Mangaung have launched a manhunt for six suspects linked to the case. The state prosecutor says six suspects are still at large and are being sought by members of the SAPS.
