Tebogo Msimanga |
The Vryburg Regional Court postponed the case against Itumeleng Godfrey Setatwe (45), to 30 January 2023, for further trial. Setatwe, who was a police officer attached to the Vryburg stock theft unit, is facing a charge of fraud with an alternative charge of defeating the administration of justice.
He is facing a charge of unacceptable conduct, aligned with the contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities (PCCA) Act.
North West NPA Spokesperson Henry Mamothame said these charges are dated to 24 November 2020, when Setatwe fraudulently made an affidavit on a murder and robbery case, that was sitting at the High Court of South Africa; North West Division.
“He did so by using the particulars of another police officer and further forged his signature. He then gave it to the accused person in the case to be presented in court”.
Mamothame added that Setatwe further coerced this officer to report sick on 25 November 2020, when the matter was appearing in court. This statement was however not accepted by the court. “Police investigations revealed that Setatwe and the accused person in the murder case are both originally from Taung in the North West”.
The fraud was ultimately discovered by a police officer who was testifying in court when he found the statement suspicious. The state is expected to call more witnesses when the matter resumes in January 2023. Meanwhile, the accused will remain in police custody until the next court appearance.
