Pastor says he was "compelled" to sign a confession
THE pastor charged with the murder of a young girl yesterday told the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court that he was assaulted twice by the police in an attempt to solicit a murder confession from him.
Monde Tokwe, 49, a pastor of the Eden Church, testified before Judge Piet Meyer that he was "severely" assaulted in January last year after he had been arrested at his Mandela Park house, near Katlehong in Ekurhuleni.
He said under cross-examination by prosecutor Sifiso Khumalo that as a result of the assault, in which he claims he was pistol-whipped, he often experienced headaches.
"I was hit with the back of a firearm. It was a serious injury but I did not go to the doctor. I also suffered a broken finger," Tokwe said.
He said when he arrived at Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Ramukosi's office in Krugersdorp he was further assaulted before he could say anything to the officer.
Tokwe said he was "compelled" to sign a confession because he was scared refusal would result in further assaults.
"(Ramukosi) told me that I must not attempt to deny anything that was in the statement. He then made me put my fingerprints on it (as a way of signing)," he said.
Tokwe later backtracked, saying he had told Ramukosi about the assault on him by the officers.
"I said to him 'the policemen who brought me here beat me up'."
That was a contradiction of what he had earlier said when he revealed that Ramukosi assaulted him before he could even say anything.
Tokwe, his wife Nolufefe, Fundisile Sithole and traditional healer Vusi Mofokeng, have all been charged with the death of Yonela Sikweyiya, whose body was found in the veld in 2010. The trial continues.
- selebim@sowetan.co.za
Muthi murder accused claims police assaulted him
Pastor says he was "compelled" to sign a confession
THE pastor charged with the murder of a young girl yesterday told the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court that he was assaulted twice by the police in an attempt to solicit a murder confession from him.
Monde Tokwe, 49, a pastor of the Eden Church, testified before Judge Piet Meyer that he was "severely" assaulted in January last year after he had been arrested at his Mandela Park house, near Katlehong in Ekurhuleni.
He said under cross-examination by prosecutor Sifiso Khumalo that as a result of the assault, in which he claims he was pistol-whipped, he often experienced headaches.
"I was hit with the back of a firearm. It was a serious injury but I did not go to the doctor. I also suffered a broken finger," Tokwe said.
He said when he arrived at Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Ramukosi's office in Krugersdorp he was further assaulted before he could say anything to the officer.
Tokwe said he was "compelled" to sign a confession because he was scared refusal would result in further assaults.
"(Ramukosi) told me that I must not attempt to deny anything that was in the statement. He then made me put my fingerprints on it (as a way of signing)," he said.
Tokwe later backtracked, saying he had told Ramukosi about the assault on him by the officers.
"I said to him 'the policemen who brought me here beat me up'."
That was a contradiction of what he had earlier said when he revealed that Ramukosi assaulted him before he could even say anything.
Tokwe, his wife Nolufefe, Fundisile Sithole and traditional healer Vusi Mofokeng, have all been charged with the death of Yonela Sikweyiya, whose body was found in the veld in 2010. The trial continues.
- selebim@sowetan.co.za
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