Plot owner to get R50K from police
April 10 2013 at 12:09pm
By ZELDA VENTER
By ZELDA VENTER
.
Pretoria - The police have to pay a
Pretoria plot owner R50 000 in damages for unlawful arrest and his subsequent
seven-hour incarceration in a holding cell during which time he was allegedly
assaulted by officers.
Johann Carstens initially claimed R300
000 in damages in the Pretoria High Court from the police following his ordeal
on March 14, 2007.
He was, at the time, arrested without a
warrant at the Olifantsfontein police station on charges of crimen injuria and
disturbing the peace.
Carstens was detained for six hours. He
stated that he was a diabetic who relied on insulin, but the police refused him
access to his medication.
He also complained that he was severely
assaulted by several officers, who beat, kicked and manhandled him. The
assault, he said, took place in the police station and in front of members of
the public.
Carstens said although he was injured,
he was refused medical attention. He was released seven hours later, without
any official charges brought against him. He had to undergo medial treatment
and could not work for two days.
Police at first indicated they were
going to defend the claim, but only gave a blanket denial of all the
allegations. According to them, Carstens was aggressive after he was “caught
committing a crime” in the presence of police officers. They denied that they
assaulted him, but admitted that the National Prosecuting Authority refused to
prosecute him.
Deputy Judge President Willem van der
Merwe yesterday ordered the police to pay Carstens R50 000 after they no longer
defended the matter. He also ruled that, if the money was not paid within 30
days, police had to pay 15 percent interest a year on the amount.
Pretoria News
