PE man gets damages from copsPE
2012-12-21
10:24
(Picture:
Shutterstock )
Port Elizabeth - The Eastern Cape High Court has ordered the
minister of police to pay R110 000 in damages to a man for invasion of privacy
and assault, according to a report on Friday.
The judgment related to a case involving Thobela Julius
Funde, who was assaulted by two police officers when his Kwadwesi home was
raided five years ago, The Star
reported.
The officers claimed they went to Funde's home at midnight to
search for dagga after receiving a tip-off.
During the raid, his wife and child were sent to another room
in the house, and Funde was handcuffed and made to lie down on the floor.
One of the officers produced a plastic glove and put it over
Funde's head, with the result that he could not breathe. He lost consciousness
and the glove was taken off and he was revived with water.
The process was repeated and continued for between 30 minutes
to an hour.
He was also pressed down, causing the handcuffs to hurt his
wrists.
He spent a long weekend in jail then opened an assault case.
The court found Funde's version more reliable and that the
officers' action was a serious invasion of privacy, and the assault severe.
The judgment must be sent to the minister of police and to
the police's national commissioner.
- SAPA
