Cop cars to be sold to pay
damages
2011-09-01
21:51
Johannesburg
- Five cars belonging to the Siyabuswa police station in Mpumalanga will be
removed and possibly auctioned off on Friday to pay a victim of unlawful and
malicious arrest.
The
sheriff of the Mkobola and Mdutjana Magistrate's Courts would remove the cars,
worth an estimated R800 000, to pay damages to John Bossie Mahlangu following
his arrest in June, his lawyer Msebenzi Masombuka said on Thursday.
Mahlangu
was arrested on his wedding day and detained for four days after police accused
him of being in possession of stolen cattle.
Mahlangu
said he had given his cousin, John Masilela, R9 000 that week to buy two cows
for him as part of ilobola.
Masilela
however stole the cattle and delivered them to Mahlangu.
He
argued in court there was no way he could have known the animals were stolen
because Masilela normally bought and sold cattle.
He
told the Times Live website he was assaulted by inmates and slept on the floor
in jail without blankets and pillows.
He
said he attended court several times. Charges against him were eventually
withdrawn as police failed to link him to the crime.
On
June 10 Mahlangu successfully sued Police Minister Nathi Mtethwa for R210 000.
- SAPA
