By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended South African Police Service (SAPS) forensic ballistics expert Captain Laurance Makgotloe faces an additional charge of accessory after the fact to murder after the State expanded its indictment against him during a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Makgotloe’s formal bail application was postponed to Thursday after proceedings were adjourned.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has indicated it will oppose bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations against him.
Makgotloe is accused of manipulating or submitting inaccurate ballistic reports linked to the April 2024 murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.
According to the amended indictment, he now faces a charge of accessory after the fact to murder, alternatively defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The new charge relates to a separate murder investigation from January 2018 in which a husband allegedly hired a hitman to kill his wife using his licensed firearm.
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