Mdluli trial hits snag over statements dispute
Amanda Watson
The case against suspended Police Crime Intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli was yesterday postponed in the South Gauteng High Court.
Set to resume on Monday, the case has been delayed to allow the state to secure the attendance of two more witnesses to assist the court.
It is believed the contents of two statements were disputed by the people who gave them and Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng wanted the police members who took them down to testify to their credibility.
Mdluli – due to retire next year – and his co-accused, Lieutenant-Colonel Mthembeni Mthunzi, have been on trial since mid2015 for charges related to the death and disappearance of Oupa Ramogibe in February 1999.
Based at the Vosloorus Police Station at the time, Mdluli was arrested, together with court orderly Samuel Dlomo. Colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba and Mthunzi were bust in 2011.
But the charges were dropped against Dlomo and Ximba after a court found there was insufficient evidence to charge them.
The murder charges against Mdluli and Mthunzi were also withdrawn, but the two senior officers still face five counts of intimidation, two counts of kidnapping, two for assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm and one for defeating the ends of justice.
This was after a Supreme Court of Appeal ruled for Freedom under Law that the National Prosecuting Authority reinstate charges against Mdluli, who says the charges are the result of a plot.