Rachel Kutumela, the cop accused of killing people for insurance money, told the court that her arrest didn't come as a surprise as she knew she was being investigated. Kutumela (43), her elder sister Annah Shokane (47) and her daughter Flora Shokane (23) appeared at the Polokwane Magistrate's Court in Limpopo to apply for bail.

ONE OF HER VICTIMS WAS HER FORMER LOVER AND BABY DADDY

The trio faces at least 30 charges, including nine counts of murder, money laundering, receiving proceeds from unlawful activities, fraud and defeating the ends of justice. Kutumela is accused of killing Sydney Noko Montja, Joyce Tsela Malesa, Navel Kutumela, Maphari Ephraim Chosi, Jacob Petrus Seakamela and Phuthi Martin Mothata between 2019 and 2024. Montja was Kutumela's former lover and father of Flora, who is accused number three in the case.

SHE KNEW SHE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED 

During her bail application, Kutumela told the court that she started working as a police officer in 2007 in Polokwane. "I have no passport and have no relatives outside South Africa. I realised I was being investigated in February this year after receiving a call from Sergeant Mabula, an investigating officer from the South African Police Service in Matlala. He was also the investigating officer in the case of Navel Kutumela, one of my alleged victims," she said in her affidavit supporting her bail application.

Kutumela said Sergeant Mabula called and asked her how things went with the Absa claims, and she told him the bank did not pay the claim as it was referred for further investigation. "I knew then that the Absa investigations also involved the police," she stated. Kutumela said in August, police officers from the provincial office visited her at the station and requested to see her without her firearm as they didn't feel safe and she complied.

She said they took her statements and left. She also told the court that she co-operated with the investigation and was shocked when she was ambushed during her arrest, pushed against the wall and disarmed. She said she thought the cops who arrested her were criminals who wanted to take suspects away from her.

Kutumela was arrested earlier this month at work at the Senwabarwana police station. She allegedly killed six people and gained R10 million in insurance payouts. The bail application hearing that has been scheduled from today until Friday, continues. The state said they intend to oppose bail.