Captain Laurence Makgotloe appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday facing expanded charges including a second count of accessory after the fact to murder linked to a 2018 incident.
Makgotloe, a South African Police Service forensic analyst, was arrested on 22 May at his Pretoria home. He faces allegations of tampering with ballistic evidence in the April 2024 murder of engineer Armand Swart. Prosecutors added the new charge during Tuesday’s bail hearing.
The state also alleges Makgotloe was in unlawful possession of 38 rounds of ammunition. An amended charge sheet now lists two counts of accessory after the fact to murder and one ammunition charge. The defence requested a postponement, which the court granted.
Bail proceedings are now scheduled for Thursday 4 June. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the state will oppose bail due to the seriousness of the charges. She stated the 2018 allegation involves similar claims of producing inaccurate ballistic reports.
