Former EMPD officer turns herself in in R15m precious stones heist - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.
Kersha Leigh Stols, the third suspect in the R15 million precious stones theft case, is expected to apply for bail alongside her two co-accused on 16 July. Stols, a former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police. . .
Kersha Leigh Stols, the third suspect in the R15 million precious stones theft case, is expected to apply for bail alongside her two co-accused on 16 July. Stols, a former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer, will appear with fellow EMPD officer Adrian MacKenzie and private security company owner Ettiene Van Der Walt. She handed herself over to the police on Monday. The arrests follow testimony by Witness K, a former Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer and former girlfriend of suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi. Witness K told the Madlanga Commission that she and Mkhwanazi conspired in the theft of the precious stones. Stols resigned from the EMPD about a year ago, around the time investigations into the multimillion-rand theft began. She is currently being held at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre, commonly known as Sun City. Her legal team is expected to argue during the bail application that she voluntarily surrendered to police, demonstrating that she is not a flight risk. Stols also came under scrutiny during the Madlanga Commission after she allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to Witness K referring to Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Assistant Director Thulani Magagula as “evil” because of his investigation into the matter. According to evidence before the Commission, the message also referred to alleged plans with the Director of Public Prosecutions to resolve the investigation, implying an attempt to make the matter disappear. Investigators have indicated that further arrests are expected. Third suspect to appear in court over R15m precious stones heist