Johannesburg - The alleged killer of forensic auditor Lawrence Moepi has chosen to abandon a bid for freedom while he awaits trial.
Remember Siphoro was arrested at the beginning of this month for the murder of Moepi, who was shot outside his auditing firm’s offices in Houghton.
On Tuesday, Siphoro appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, where his lawyer said a bail application would not be necessary, for now.
But Siphoro can still apply for bail when he returns to the court in January.
The State had asked for a postponement for further investigation, as police continue their search for an accomplice to the murder.
Prior to his death, Moepi was handling numerous sensitive investigations for his auditing firm, including an investigation into the purchase of trade federation Cosatu’s headquarters.
In October he was found shot in the parking lot of his workplace, SizweNtsaluba-Gobodo, after he was reportedly followed by at least two men in a VW Golf. Nothing was taken from the scene, leading to speculation that the murder could have been a hit.
Siphoro was arrested in Mofolo in Soweto after a breakthrough in the probe.
At the time of the murder, the Association of Public Accounts Committees of South Africa called for protection for its members.
“It is a threat to (all forensic auditors) and might lead to the industry losing quality auditors because they fear for their lives,” chairman Sipho Makama said at the time.
On its website, Moepi’s firm said that he had worked with the police’s commercial crime unit and even the Scorpions before it was shut down.
It was also reported that he had been appointed to work on the investigation into the arms deal inquiry.
Moepi was also allegedly handling investigations for the office of the public protector, and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela confirmed that he had been working as an external auditor for her office.
The Star