The murder trial of Bloemfontein businessman Louis Siemens where men are standing trial for various charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, will sit for at least 11 days. The state's prosecutor Johan de Nysschen is expected to call up one more last witness to the box who could possibly give testimony into the murder mastermind accused Stanley Bakili.

The trial, which has been dragging on since 2018, was set to reach its end in 2021 but surprisingly the state asked for a postponement with the intention to call another witness. Some of the accused were apparently planning on applying for acquittal in the matter, but their hopes were quickly dashed when De Nysschen informed Judge Pitso Molitsoane that he had one more witness on his cards.

Eight men, including the alleged murder mastermind, Bakili, two police officials, and a disbarred attorney, amongst others, are standing trial for the murder of Siemens who was gunned down at the Preller Square parking lot in broad daylight in May 2018.

The case against these eight men has been dragging on since 2018. One suspect, the confessed shooter, Xolisile Botha Mbebetho, is serving 22 years in jail for killing Siemens.

In January 2021, OFM News reported that the application for the release of four accused in the Siemens murder case - citing unjustifiable detention – was denied by Judge Molitsoane.

CityMed Managing Director, Louis Siemens, was shot four times assassination-style in the basement parking of the Preller Square Shopping Complex in May 2018. Ten men have been arrested for allegedly playing various direct and indirect roles in orchestrating and carrying out the murder. Eight of the accused are standing trial while the others have turned into state witnesses.

Since the trial started on 28 October 2019, almost two dozen people took the stand, including high profile government officials such as Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, former Free State Health HOD, David Motau, and former provincial Health MEC, Benny Malakoane. They denied having any involvement or knowledge of bribes being paid by accused number one, Stanley Bakili, on behalf of the deceased for the amendment of CityMed’s hospital licenses to allow for more beds.

OFM News