A second incident of a Lyttelton police officer allegedly refusing to open a criminal case has come to light.
On 3 March, a Lyttelton police officer allegedly refused to open a case when a woman came in to report being verbally abused by a motorist she had been in an accident with.
This follows after a member of the Lytcom CPF was not allowed to open a case of assault after he became embroiled in a fight with a resident at the end of February.
The resident was, however, allowed to open a case of assault. The CPF member then later drove to the Wierdabrug police station where he was allowed to open a case.
The CPF member was arrested a few weeks later.
The most recent refusal came after a 27-year-old doctor from Zwartkop, who wishes to remain anonymous, was verbally abused and threatened following the accident on 3 March in Rabie Avenue.
“My vehicle’s bumper and its frame were bent and the central locking broken.”
She said when she got out of her vehicle, the man in the bakkie started degrading her with foul language.
“He threatened to punch me and started calling me extremely foul names,” she said.
The man refused to give her his details. She drove to the Lyttelton police station to open a case of crimen injuria as well as to report the accident.
“There was a very friendly constable that was more than willing to open the case for me. He, however, had to show me to another officer, because he did not have the appropriate documents.”
She said the officer took the accident report but refused to open the criminal case.
“She said if I lay a charge, I would not be able to claim from my insurance. She told me I either had to file an accident report or open a case of crimen injuria.”
The woman went home and sought legal advice.
“My lawyer told me it was nonsense. I should be able to open a case of crimen injuria as well as an accident report and the police could not refuse to do this.”
She returned to Lyttelton police station where she was again told she could not do both.
“When I asked for a case number so that I at least have something on paper, the officer told me she would not do the paperwork, purely for having something on paper.”
She then went to Wierdabrug police station.
“At Wierdabrug, officers were very helpful. They could, however, not open a case as it was outside their jurisdiction. They assured me the Lyttelton police station would be able to open both files,” she said.
The woman tried meeting the Lyttelton police station commander, but was shown away as he was too busy to talk to her.
“Now I will attempt to make an appointment with the acting station commander in the hope of opening a case.”
Rekord could not yet get comment from the Lyttelton police station spokesperson Hero Gumbu on the latest alleged refusal.
Gumbu also previously said he could not comment on the allegations that the CPF member was not allowed to open a case and that he would investigate and comment at a later stage.
Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, said by SMS the police were not allowed to refuse to take complaints from the public unless the complaint does not constitute a criminal act.
“However a victim must be satisfied why a complaint is not registered. Members who fail to treat victims according to the Police Code of Conduct must be reported for the purpose of an internal investigation.”
Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee said it was not true that the woman could not open a crimen injuria case and an accident report.
“Sometimes the police are just too lazy to open cases. This nonsense must end now. I hope the officers responsible will be brought to account. We cannot let laziness stand in the way of serving the community.”
Abramjee said officers who refused to open cases should be reported to police management for misconduct or to the watchdog – the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
Also read:
Police refuse to open case after accident
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