Man claims police bullied him
Daniël Pheme claims he was bullied by police
officers and unlawfully arrested at the city’s game reserve on Tuesday
afternoon.
Daniël Pheme was arrested at the Polokwane Game
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07 June 2012 | Maretha Swanepoel
POLOKWANE - Daniël Pheme claims he was bullied by
police officers and unlawfully arrested at the city’s game reserve on Tuesday
afternoon.
Pheme, who hosted a private party at the reserve’s facilities over the weekend, returned this week to pick up his belongings and equipment.
"On Monday afternoon, they indicated that they were closing, so I could only take one load," Pheme says.
On Tuesday, he returned for the rest of his goods when he found the chalets locked.
"They told me they wanted to evaluate the damage to the chalets."
Pheme admits damage was caused, but adds the reserve had kept his deposits as payment for the damages, "I have the receipts to prove this is the case".
Game reserve staff closed the gates, preventing him from leaving.
"I said I wanted to go to the police station to report a case as they refused to return my belongings."
He believes a phone call was made by game reserve staff, as traffic department officials arrived to tow away his vehicle.
"The lady at reception said there were some pots missing, but the security guards searched my bakkie and found nothing."
His vehicle was in the meantime towed away.
"As I was taking photos of the incident, a police officer told me to stop doing so, and started beating me."
"He tackled me for my phone, which fell on the ground. One of the security guards picked it up and gave it to the police, who then deleted the photos."
He was handcuffed and taken to the police station, he says, where he heard for the first time that he was charged with malicious damage to property and crimen injuria.
Pheme claims the police assisted him in retrieving his vehicle, "after the traffic department told me I had to pay R500".
The police’s WO Lesedi Ramashaba was not aware of the incident, but said Pheme has the right to report the matter.
Pheme will appear in the district court on July 17.
Pheme, who hosted a private party at the reserve’s facilities over the weekend, returned this week to pick up his belongings and equipment.
"On Monday afternoon, they indicated that they were closing, so I could only take one load," Pheme says.
On Tuesday, he returned for the rest of his goods when he found the chalets locked.
"They told me they wanted to evaluate the damage to the chalets."
Pheme admits damage was caused, but adds the reserve had kept his deposits as payment for the damages, "I have the receipts to prove this is the case".
Game reserve staff closed the gates, preventing him from leaving.
"I said I wanted to go to the police station to report a case as they refused to return my belongings."
He believes a phone call was made by game reserve staff, as traffic department officials arrived to tow away his vehicle.
"The lady at reception said there were some pots missing, but the security guards searched my bakkie and found nothing."
His vehicle was in the meantime towed away.
"As I was taking photos of the incident, a police officer told me to stop doing so, and started beating me."
"He tackled me for my phone, which fell on the ground. One of the security guards picked it up and gave it to the police, who then deleted the photos."
He was handcuffed and taken to the police station, he says, where he heard for the first time that he was charged with malicious damage to property and crimen injuria.
Pheme claims the police assisted him in retrieving his vehicle, "after the traffic department told me I had to pay R500".
The police’s WO Lesedi Ramashaba was not aware of the incident, but said Pheme has the right to report the matter.
Pheme will appear in the district court on July 17.
