Shane Booysen of Amanzimtoti falsely arrested FOUR
TIMES by same police-force at Johannesburg International Airport
Shane &
Charmaine Booysen: False arrest at JHB Intrnational Airport - Aug 17, 2011
source: Jenny Bipat
2 September 2011: Kempton Park – Charmaine and Shane Booysen’s overseas trip was cut short at the
boarding gate at the Johannesburg International Airport on August 17, when Shane was arrested and told he
was wanted by the police. He was arrested in full view of a large number of
passengers and dumped in a cell, once with an arrested drug-smuggler. And this
happened to him four times: even after they had called in their lawyer and
tried to continue their trip to Sweden and Switzerland.
“My wife Charmaine and I couldn’t wait for our trip to Sweden and
Switzerland. After the airport official checked my documents, he told me I was
wanted by the police. My first thought was disbelief. I told the official it
was impossible, I’ve never been arrested for anything in my life,” said Shane.
“When the police escorted me away like a common crook in front of
onlookers, it was most embarrassing. I was detained in an office at the airport
and asked why I was leaving the country and where I was going.”Shane was told a
warrant had been issued for his arrest at Bedfordview police station. “It’s
difficult to describe what I felt at the time, but it was a mixture of shock,
anger and disappointment,” he said.In spite of him telling police they must be
mistaken, they made him feel like a criminal. “After detaining us for 45
minutes they must have realised I wasn’t who they were looking for. Although we
could leave, we were too late to board our flight.”After picking up their
luggage at the departure gate, the couple were escorted back to the police
detaining office. “I asked the police if we could book another flight to
Zurich, catch a connecting flight in Stockholm to board a cruise ship.”
To get to the booking department of Swiss Air, they had to go through
customs again, where the whole scenario was repeated. “By this time I had
reached the end of my tether,” said Shane. Although the police let him go
again, it was too late to book another flight. Luckily their daughter lives in
Johannesburg and they stayed the night with her. The next morning the Booysen’s
contacted a lawyer. “I didn’t want to go back to the airport only to be
arrested again.” While Charmaine rebooked their tickets as they hoped to
continue with their plans despite the hiccup – the lawyer went to the airport
police. “He contacted me to meet with him and the police as they had assured
him the matter will be resolved. When I got to them, I was told I was being
arrested for fraud and forgery and took me to a holding cell at the airport. I
had given up on ever going on our trip and told Charmaine to cancel
everything.” Shane was placed in a cell with a drug smuggler and
three-and-a-half-hours later he was escorted to Bedfordview police station. “A
police captain told me he will ‘help fix the mix-up’ and took me to the police
inspector I assume was handling the case.” The inspector said he was ‘the wrong
person’. “They opened a docket and showed me a photo of some stranger. They said
the person may have used my identity in 2002 to obtain bail after a court
hearing in Germiston.” The police gave him a letter stating his innocence and
that the fraud was committed due to the possibility of him losing an ID book
and that he was wrongfully arrested. “No-one could explain to me why I was
given a visa if there was an arrest warrant out for me.” After he was told he
was free, the Booysens decided to continue with their vacation.
AND AGAIN HE WAS TOLD HE WAS A ‘WANTED MAN’…
“When we went through customs, I was once again told I was a wanted man.
We were escorted back to the police detaining offices but were allowed to leave
after producing the letter.”
The Booysens eventually got to Sweden but lost about R7,000, excluding
the lawyer’s fee, due to cancellations. “While Charmaine and I still managed to
have a nice trip, being detained twice and arrested did sour the experience. On
our return, I was told for the fourth time I was wanted and escorted to the
police detaining offices. After showing them the letter we were allowed to
leave.”
