Sunday, February 1, 2009
Jo'burg Metro Police threaten woman with rape
Johannesburg - An 18-year-old flight attendant from South African Airways has laid charges of harassment, intimidation and extortion after she was allegedly harassed by metro police officers who demanded R4 000 from her and threatened to throw her into jail, "where she would be raped by other inmates".
Her father, ironically, is a senior official in the traffic department of the eThekweni municipality.
Joburg metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said they were taking the matter seriously.
"We are aware of the charges and are involved with our investigations. We view these charges as really serious and will make sure that everything possible is done to get to the bottom of this. We will keep the victim and her father informed."
The flight attendant left her Fourways home at 3.40am on Wednesday for OR Tambo International Airport when two metro police cars and a van allegedly flagged her down.
Her father related her terrifying ordeal in the dark and torrential rain because, he said, she was too traumatised to face people.
"These police vehicles stopped alongside her and flagged her down. All the other officers were seated in their vehicles and one officer in a raincoat came towards her vehicle and shone a torch inside the car.
"He said he was going to arrest her and lock her up. She asked what she had done, because she was driving normally and following the rules of the road. He got aggressive and told her to get out of the car and into the back of the van. He said that in prison, women get raped and beaten."
When the victim refused to get into the van, the officer said she had to give him R4 000.
"She took out her wallet and showed him she only had R200. He told her she should go to an ATM.
"He said flight attendants get good salaries; much higher than police officers. She was contemplating giving him the money just to get away."
The officer then asked about her family.
"She said her father was a high-ranking Durban traffic official. He then took the R200 from her wallet and said she could go.
"He said that before she goes, she should give him a hug and a kiss. She became hysterical, ran to her car and drove off. She drove straight to the airport, and one of the pilots called my wife."
The father then rushed to Joburg and took her back to the family home in Durban, where she is recovering.
"My daughter is such a shy and timid girl, and this incident has really terrified her.
"When citizens see police officers, they are supposed to feel safe and protected, but these corrupt officers have instilled fear into her."
He said he was conducting his own investigations and hoped that the guilty parties would soon be caught.
"I have questioned the metro police chief and taken this to the minister's office. These vehicles have tracker devices, and they must work fast to catch these culprits."
Posted by ZeroTolerance at 11:14 AM
Labels: BLACK VIOLENCE, JMPD, SA POLICE
