Joburg police officer ‘rapes’ detainee in holding cell

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Grace Langa revealed yesterday the 45-year-old police officer had allegedly arrested the woman for fraud on Saturday and detained her alone in police cells at the station on June 28. It is alleged at about 2am, the officer went to her cell and raped her, Northcliff Melville Times reported.

“In the morning, the victim managed to explain to one of the police officers about the rape, and she was quickly escorted to the clinic for medication and to open a case of rape,” added Langa

She said the officer was arrested and appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on a charge of rape on June 30, where his bail application was denied. The officer was remanded in custody for a formal bail application on July 7.

Langa added the officer allegedly told the woman, “you are going to be my wife,” before raping her. Investigations are ongoing.

Linden police spokesperson Captain Alex Vermaak said he was surprised to hear about the incident and that the matter was being investigated by Ipid, so he could not comment further.

In May, a 36-year-old sergeant appeared in the Riversdale Magistrates’ Court for the alleged rape of a 22-year-old woman.

The suspect was arrested on May 5, 2015 by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). A civilian who also raped the victim is being traced.

It is alleged on May 4, 2015, between 2am and 5am, the victim was at a party in her residential area when she received a phone call from an off-duty police officer saying her boyfriend, who is a cousin to the police officer, was calling her. She went to the identified house to meet with her boyfriend as per the call, but instead the police officer, who was with a member of the public, drove with her to a bushy area where the police officer allegedly raped her while the other suspect was asleep in the car.

The police officer then drove away and returned later to the same spot and again raped the victim. It was during the second incident that the other suspect woke up and raped the victim.

After the ordeal the victim was dropped at home by the member, and she reported the incident to her family.

– Caxton News Service