Two police officers appeared in the Kariega magistrate’s court on Friday in connection with charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of a 37-year-old man.
The 42-year-old sergeant and his 41-year-old constable colleague, who were arrested on Thursday in connection with allegations dating back to July 2022, spent a long time in the dock while arguments were heard over an urgent application to expedite their bid for bail.
The attorney for one of the men, George Malgas, brought the application, arguing that the state did not need a seven-day postponement because the investigation conducted by police watchdog Ipid into the allegations levelled against the seasoned officer should have been completed by now.
Malgas said though the policemen faced a schedule six offence, the manner in which they had been arrested and the alleged inaction of the investigating officer in conducting the investigation, amounted to a “travesty of justice” and was malicious in its nature.
“It is very clear the basics were not done prior to their arrests.
“It would seem the right hand is not helping the left hand [and] the investigating officer doesn’t know where to start,” Malgas said.
Ipid spokesperson Robbie Raburabu said it was alleged that on July 10 2022, while the officers, who cannot be named until they plead, were on duty they had randomly picked up the man at or near Pappegaai Street, Rosedale, and loaded him into a marked police vehicle.
Raburabu said the police members, attached to the Kamesh visible policing unit, then drove around with the man in the car and occasionally stopped and allegedly assaulted him.
The complainant had been pepper-sprayed and a sharp object had allegedly been inserted in his anus.
Raburabu said the man had lost consciousness on several occasions due to the severity of the alleged assault.
“The [alleged] assault was so severe the complainant could not walk properly for some time,” Raburabu said.
Asked if the man had reported the matter to the police before Ipid became involved, Raburabu said he had allegedly gone to the police station to open a case but had been turned away on more than one occasion.
“He is still not right and very traumatised.
“I think his whole family is still traumatised and also scared of the push back by the police.
“They are afraid the system might come back at them,” he said.
Both officers were arrested on Thursday, one at the Mount Road police station and the other at the Cuyler Clinic, where he was visiting his wife, who had been admitted with a heart condition.
Malgas claimed the police members had been misled and “duped” before their arrest, with one man being told to go to the Mount Road police station to see a police general who was not at the station at the time.
Minutes after the officer arrived for the alleged meeting, he was arrested by members of Ipid.
Malgas said his client had received the same instruction, but informed his station commander that he would not be able to comply with it because he had taken family responsibility leave to see his wife in hospital.
Speaking to Weekend Post outside court on Friday, Raburabu said the alleged victim had positively identified the two officers as his assailants and given a description of the vehicle.
The two officers were served with letters of suspension in court.
The matter was postponed to Monday for them to bring formal bail applications.
HeraldLIVE