Phosholi tells OFM News that he will not comment on the matter because the statement forms part of the criminal case. He said this following a press briefing by provincial police management at the Metpol building this week.

The Bayswater Captain at the centre of this allegation is 56-year-old Moeketsi Lesia, who initially took to the stand in November 2018, to testify during his now fellow accused’s bail application. In it, he said he did not know if his junior, Bayswater detective Molebatsi Mogoera, was corrupt as alleged by the state, but that he was aware that Mogoera was in charge of a domestic violence case where accused number one, Stanley Bakili, was implicated. Lesia then alleged that he was in fact coerced to write a statement to the contrary by Phosholi. He said not only did the police head instruct him to lie and say Mogoera was corrupt, but that he was also seen with documents under his arm at Windmill Casino in the presence of Bakili.

Mere days after giving this testimony, Lesia was arrested by police and charged with Siemens’ murder. He was later released on bail in December – the only accused in this matter released on bail at present.

Prosecutor Johan de Nysschen is expected to have the indictment into the matter finalised on Thursday April 11, as all the suspects alleged to have been involved both directly and indirectly in Siemens’ murder will make what is believed to be their final appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court a month before the one-year anniversary of the businessman’s murder in the basement parking area of Preller Square. De Nysschen confirms all suspects, who are between the ages of 29 and 56 years, will appear on that day for a possible Free State High Court trial date. They are Stanley Bakili, Mogoera Molebatsi, Kagiso Chabane, Mojalefa Jali Molusi, Moeketsi Lesia, Karabo Tau, Sizwe Mpati, and Clive Tshivenga.

Xolisile Mbebetho confessed to the crime and was convicted in November 2018 of pulling the trigger that ended Siemens’ life. Mbebetho was sentenced to 22-years in jail by the High Court and in turn, became the state’s witness.

OFM News