Shopkeeper ‘manhandled by police’
October 29 2013 at 02:54pm
By NKULULEKO NENE
By NKULULEKO NENE
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
An emotional Feng Hui
Lin, speaking at the Chinese consulate, described the alleged discrimination by
KwaDukuza traffic police. Picture: Gcina Ndwalane
Durban - A Chinese businessman has
claimed that an angry KwaDukuza traffic officer allegedly pepper-sprayed him
after he asked a motorist who was parked in front of his supermarket to move so
that a truck could off-load goods.
The officer’s woman partner then
allegedly pointed a firearm at him, said Feng Hui Lin, who has laid charges of
assault and pointing of a firearm against the officers.
He claimed he was locked up for four
hours in a “container” at the traffic police department’s yard last Tuesday.
The 34-year-old owner of the “5 Cents”
supermarket in the North Coast town’s King Shaka Street, has also reported his
alleged ordeal to the Chinese consulate.
Speaking to the Daily News outside the
consulate offices in Durban North, Lin said he was shocked at the way the South
African police treated foreigners, claiming he was discriminated against
because of his nationality.
Explaining last week’s events, he said
the motorist had agreed to move his car from outside his shop when the police
intervened.
The two KwaDukuza traffic officers told
the motorist to ignore him, he said, adding that as the driver was reversing,
he bumped into him.
“I asked an apologetic driver to watch
where he was driving. Suddenly, an officer pulled out from nowhere and shouted to
me, ‘This is not China.’
“He grabbed me by the collar while
swearing at me. He pepper sprayed me so bad I could not see a thing,” he said.
“I tried to wipe it using my hand, but
it got worse. I went inside the shop with an aim to wash my eyes,” he said.
Lin said when he bent over the
washbasin, his firearm that was tucked into his waistband became visible,
prompting the female officer to pull out a rifle, which she allegedly pointed
at his face.
“I was humiliated in front of my wife,
staff, and customers,” he said. Another businessman tried to intervene, but the
cops would hear none of it.”
Lin said more police arrived and
tackled him. He was allegedly handcuffed and thrown into the police car. When
he asked an officer why he was being arrested, he was told it was for pulling
out a firearm.
“Instead of locking me up at a nearby
SAPS station, I was kept for four hours at a container in the traffic police
department yard,” said Lin.
“I felt discriminated (against) because
of my nationality,” he said. “The consulate (official) told me that she will
report the matter in Pretoria on her next visit.”
Lin said he had seen a doctor after his
ordeal.
A former Stanger councillor, Rabi
Singh, who runs a nearby shop, said he had witnessed the incident and tried to
intervene. He said he was also threatened with arrest.
“I asked why they were abusing the man.
They asked me what I was going to do… I went to my shop and tried to call the
KwaDukuza mayor (Ricardo Mthembu), but was told he had a meeting,” he said.
Singh said he felt sorry for Lin, who
he described as a humble man.
SAPS spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane
confirmed a charge of pointing a firearm had been laid against the traffic
officer at the KwaDukuza police station. There was no record of an assault
charge.
He said investigations were continuing.
KwaDukuza municipality spokesman,
Sifiso Zulu, on Monday said no complaint had been lodged with the municipality,
but the council would issue a statement once the SAPS investigation had been
concluded.
nkululeko.nene@inl.co.za
Daily News
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/shopkeeper-manhandled-by-police-1.1599029
