Investigator Kobus Roelofse told the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on Monday that a witness directly implicated Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli in the 1999 killing of Oupa Ramogibe.
Roelofse, who was also involved in the Glenn Agliotti investigation, said the other three accused were also either directly or indirectly involved and that the State had a strong prima facie case against all four.
Mdluli, Lieutenant Colonel Mtunzi-Omhle Mthembeni Mtunzi, 52, court orderly Samuel Dlomo, 49, and Colonel Nkosana Sebastian Ximba, 38, stand accused of killing Ramogibe.
All were known to witnesses, Roelofse said.
He said Mdluli had been in a relationship with Ramogibe's wife before she was married.
After her wedding, Mdluli began threatening the couple, the court heard.
“Accused three threatened Ramogibe's family that if they don't bring the deceased to him (Mdluli), he would find him and kill him,” Roelofse said in testimony.
After Ramogibe and his wife moved to Orange Farm, Roelefse said accused two to four (Ximba, Mdluli and Mtunzi) went to the new home, kidnapped Ramogibe's wife and assaulted her.
Witness Alice Manana was also allegedly assaulted.
Manana reported the incident and identified Mdluli as one of the perpetrators, said Roelofse.
The court heard that the docket was taken away from the investigating officer on the case at the time.
The officer was allegedly told he could not investigate a case that involved one of their members.
Manana was thereafter attacked again for reporting the incident. Again she allegedly identified Mdluli as one of the perpetrators.
Ximba had later befriended Ramogibe. In December 1998, an attempt was made on Ramogibe's life. He reported it to Ximba and then to the Vosloorus police station. Roelofse said the case was assigned to Dlomo.
On February 11, 1999, Dlomo allegedly closed the case and destroyed evidence without it being sent for ballistic testing.
Mdluli had implied earlier that the charges against him were fabricated as a result of a conspiracy against him by two senior police officials who tried to derail his promotion.
On Monday, however, he refused to comment on whether he believed the charges were trumped up.
“I will answer that only at the trial,” he said.
Mdluli and his three co-accused are charged with intimidation, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Mdluli is facing an additional charge of defeating and/or obstructing the course of justice. -
Sapa