Policeman in court for iron burns
A constable stationed at the Middelburg K9 Unit appeared in court in connection with the incident where a woman was severely burnt with an iron and robbed of cash and a cell phone.
Constable Martin Thabo Mathlala appeared in the Middelburg Magistrates’ Court.
Mathlala’s appearance follows an incident where four men, one of whom had their face covered with a balaclava, are alleged to have attacked a couple in their house on 2 December 2016.
The men apparently demanded money from the victims, ransacked their house and found an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspects later demanded more money and in the process, one of the suspects switched an electric iron on and burnt the victims.
After the ordeal, the suspects stole electrical appliances before fleeing the scene. One of the suspects is reported to have gone back to the house and taken the victims’ cell phones.
A case of house robbery was opened and a probe led to the arrest of Mathlala. According to a media statement by police, they said that the police further uncovered that Mathlala, previously on several occasions, allegedly went to the family demanding money after he caught the man with drugs during a police raid.
Mathlala was granted R1 000 bail with conditions that he does not communicate or intimidate the victims and his case was postponed to 17 February for further investigation. The media statement also mentioned that additional cases will be levelled against him as the investigation proceeds.
“This is indicative that corrupt elements will not be tolerated within the service. Any police official who conducts himself or herself in an unbecoming manner, will face the full might of the law,” said Brig. Leonard Hlati (Provincial Head, Corporate Communication).
