One 43-year-old South African policewoman, Rachel Kutumela, don appear in court on Friday over allegations say she murder six people to collect insurance payouts worth at least 10 million rand ($570,000).
Kutumela, who be sergeant, stand in court dock in Polokwane, about 300 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg, with her face covered by hoodie and mask until court tell her to show herself.
Police arrest her on Thursday while she dey on duty at police station in small town of Senwabarwana, about 90 km from Polokwane.
According to police statement, her victims be people she know, and dem come from destitute and disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of dem be disabled or mentally challenged.
Kutumela accuse of six murders and claiming at least 10 million rand from funeral cost insurance and life policies she take out on behalf of her victims.
The incidents begin in 2019 when dem find the insured persons dead and their bodies dumped in different areas. One man, who be disabled, body recover from dam, while one woman discover burnt to death in shack.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) describe the case as premeditated. NPA provincial spokeswoman, Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi, tell local broadcaster ENCA outside court that dem expect more arrests.
The case postpone to October 18 for bail hearing. This case remind people of another similar case in 2021 where former police officer Rosemary Ndlovu sentence to life in prison for murdering five relatives and her boyfriend to cash in on insurance claims.
