Mom slain for insurance: pastor gets life, 252 years
A CHURCH leader from Thembalethu in George has been sentenced to life plus 252 years and three months’ imprisonment for his part in the murder of job-seeking mother Hlompho Mohapi (Koloi), 25.
Pastor Melisizwe Monqo, 32, a pastor at God’s Work International Ministries, and his two co-accused in the “life insurance policy killers” trial – his wife Siphosihle Pamba, 26, and the hitman they hired, Phumlani Qhusheka, 31 – were sentenced following their conviction on charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and Mohapi’s murder.
Monqo, Pamba and Qhusheka, who killed Mohapi for a life insurance policy they had taken out on her behalf and without her knowledge, were sentenced on Friday.
Pamba was sentenced to an effective 20 years’ imprisonment and Qhusheka received life plus 63 years. All three accused were also declared unfit to own a firearm.
Monqo was convicted on 26 charges – for Mohapi’s murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, housebreaking with intent to commit murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and 13 counts of fraud.
Pamba was convicted on 24 counts similar to those of her husband.
In handing down judgment, Judge Taswell Papier said he was deviating from the prescribed minimum sentences for Pamba as she was also a victim who was abused by her husband and forced to participate in the crimes.
Judge Papier said that Pamba showed remorse, apologised to God, Mohapi’s family and society.
During the trial Pamba told the court that she deserved to die for the crimes she committed. She also did not participate in Mohapi’s gruesome murder. Qhusheka was convicted on fewer charges, including Mohapi’s murder. The judge said neither he nor Monqo showed remorse. Mohapi’s cellphone was found in his possession and her DNA found in his bloodied clothes, although he continued to protest his innocence until the end of the trial.
This case involved a scam where Monqo and Pamba took out life insurance policies on behalf of members of their church, God’s Work International Ministries, and together with Qhusheka planned their murders in the hope of benefiting from the payouts.
Apart from Mohapi’s life insurance policy, they also procured life policies on behalf of Nomfundiso Booi, Anelisa Xhotyeni and Bulelwa Sihawu – all of whom were unaware that such life policies had been taken. Pamba made the calls, pretending to be the women.
Senior State advocate Evadne Kortje called 36 witnesses. Acting director of Public Prosecutions advocate Nicolette Bell commended Kortje and investigating officer Thembekile Matwa for the sterling work they had done over the past three years and four months.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “The NPA has been ordered to organise counselling for the Mohapi family.”
Patricia Koloi, Hlompho’s mother, thanked everyone who had supported her following her daughter’s death.