A senior police official seeking bail at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court has told the magistrate he needs to be released to prepare for an upcoming SAPS disciplinary hearing, reports the Randburg Sun.

The accused is facing five charges, including rape, trafficking in persons, promoting the sexual grooming of a child and two counts of sexual grooming of a child. He was arrested on September 21 and appeared in court the following day. The National Prosecuting Authority said the charges relate to incidents between May 16 and August 3 and that the State will oppose bail. The bail application will continue on October 1.

In a written affidavit, the accused denied the allegations, describing the charges as false and trumped up and the plan to arrest him as ‘diabolical’. He said he and the complainant had consensual sex and denied the rape allegation. The State alleges that he gave the complainant alcohol before raping her.

The defence presented affidavits and witness testimony during the proceedings, with a large number of police officers present inside and outside the court. The SAPS disciplinary hearing is scheduled for November 6–9. The accused remains in custody pending the continuation of the bail hearing.

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