Couple win damages for wrongful arrest
2012-03-22 08:39
Johannesburg - A couple from Swaziland will receive R80 000 each in damages after police wrongfully arrested them for being in possession of a stolen car, The Star reported on Thursday.
Goodness Masango and her husband Vusie Dlamini each claimed R350 000 in damages before the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
Judge Legodi Phatudi ordered that R80 000 each was a reasonable amount. The two had claimed damages for unlawful arrest and detention, defamation and humiliation.
They were arrested at the Matsamo border crossing in Mpumalanga on June 30 2007.
Their car was confiscated, and police refused to allow Masango an opportunity to provide proof the car belonged to her.
They spent two days in prison and were released on July 2, when they appeared in the Tonga Magistrate's Court.
Police insisted the car had been "circulated as being stolen", despite there being no report of its theft.
- SAPA
