Polokwane - A woman and two men, accused of drugging elderly people and leaving them for dead in order to defraud them, appeared in the Polokwane High Court on Monday, Limpopo police said.
The case against Thomas Mothwa, 43, his wife Refilwe Mothwa, 41, and their associate Jan Mohlala, 58, was postponed until January 21 as their legal representation was not ready, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
Their trial, which began in February 2012, was wrapping up, he said.
The three have been charged with 53 offences, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, fraud, theft, racketeering and possession of drugs.
The married couple allegedly accosted elderly people near banks in Limpopo and the North West and pretended to know them. They would then offer the elderly people a lift and allegedly offer them spiked drinks.
“Upon (the elderly victim) losing consciousness, they would steal their bank cards and banking details, identity documents and any other valuables.
“The victims would then be dumped along the road or thrown from a bridge or into a river and left for dead,” Mulaudzi said.
The couple would then allegedly enlist Mohlala and others to make fraudulent withdrawals from their victims' bank accounts.
The three allegedly operated the syndicate - which left four dead, two missing and presumed dead and many others defrauded - between 2000 and 2007.
Sapa