BLOEMFONTEIN: The Free State police have welcomed the Free State High Court’s sentencing of Stanley Bakili, following the murder of businessman Louis Siemens in 2018. Bakili was sentenced on 18 September concluding the case that arose from Siemens’ murder on 10 May 2018 in the basement parking area of Preller Plein in Dan Pienaar.
Sgt. Mahlomola Kareli, provincial spokesperson for the police, said Bakili’s conviction and sentencing in relation to multiple charges were the culmination of an investigation that had revealed the he was the mastermind behind Siemens’ murder. He confirmed that six other suspects had been acquitted, and that a police officer who was initially arrested died before the conclusion of the matter.
Siemens was the director of the Citymed Private Hospital.
“Bakili was arrested near the scene of the crime shortly after the incident. During the trial, the identified hitman pleaded guilty and entered into a plea bargain with the state. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison and testified as a state witness against the other accused,” confirmed Kareli.
Bakili was convicted and sentenced as follows:
■ for murder: life imprisonment;
■ for extortion: 15 years’ imprisonment;
■ for money laundering: 20 years’ imprisonment;
■ for contravention of the Proceeds of Crime Act (Poca) Act: 15 years’ imprisonment;
■ for possession of an unlicensed firearm: five years; and
■ for possession of unlicensed ammunition: five years’ imprisonment.
Kareli said the court ruled that the sentences would run consecutively, meaning Bakili will serve the combined total of all sentences. He explained that the investigation by a team, including lead investigator Lt Col. Tieho Flyman of the Provincial Organised Crime unit, had yielded the arrest of a total of eight suspects.
“They included three police officials, one member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and a former attorney,” said Kareli.
Lt Gen. Baile Motswenyane has applauded the investigative team that uncovered the Siemens murder plot. “We commend the diligent work of our investigators and the prosecution team in securing this successful conviction,” said Motswenyane.
■ In March, Bakili was convicted and sentenced along with regional magistrate Leavit Mkansi in the Bloemfontein Regional Court for defeating the ends of justice. The sentencing was related to Bakili’s arrest on 27 April 2013 on 27 counts of fraud. He was sentenced to a fine of R60 000 or 30 months in prison, with an additional 30 months suspended for five years. Mkansi was sentenced to a fine of R120 000 or five years in prison.
In May 2018, during Bakili’s bail application on an unrelated matter, it was revealed that there had been cellular communication between Bakili and Mkansi. Following this, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa brought this issue to the court’s attention, prompting an application for Mkansi to recuse himself from the case. Both were charged with defeating the ends of justice after it had been uncovered that they had maintained frequent communication throughout the fraud trial. Investigation revealed communication between Bakili and Mkansi had begun as soon as Bakili had appeared before him in court during February 2017.
