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Father to sue police officer for
defaming family
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Facebook page describes man’s son as a
pig and accuses him of theft
A GORDON’S BAY father plans to sue a Cape Town police officer for defamation and emotional trauma damages after a picture of his stepson was posted on her Facebook page, calling him a vark for allegedly stealing her son’s cellphone. Philip Brink, 53, said his family were horrified when they discovered that a senior police officer had publicly threatened his stepson and another man, accusing them of stealing phones from her son and his friends two weeks ago. He plans to sue her for R500 000 for the defamation and emotional trauma the officer’s post has caused the rest of the family by exposing them to public humiliation. After the robbery on April 4, the officer’s status read: “Vanaand is my kind en sy vriend deur twee varke beroof van hul selfone en die varke brag nog hulle gaan hulle vreksteek soos hulle die ander kind by die winkel doodgesteek het… Hulle het die kinders aangerand en drank in hul kele afgegooi.” (Tonight my son and his friends were robbed of their cellphones by two pigs, and the pigs still brag they are going to stab them to death, as they stabbed to death another child at the shop… They assaulted the children and poured alcohol down their throats.) Brink’s 20-year-old stepson, Kyle Yon, handed himself in and appeared in the Strand Magistrate’s Court on theft charges on Thursday. Police are still searching for Yon’s friend, who was also allegedly involved. Yon remained in custody. Brink, who accused the officer and police of inciting violence on the internet, said: “She (the officer) went online and posted pictures of them without knowing if they were guilty or not. “She also accused them of being involved in the stabbing of another young man who my 13-year-old daughter and her friends knew. My wife hasn’t slept since and doesn’t know where to put her head at work because everybody knows,” he said. Brink said he reported the officer to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate for further investigation. “If Kyle is guilty then he has to face the consequences. My intention is to make the community (aware of) the police’s unacceptable behaviour. “Making threats that they would be harmed once the alleged thieves are caught is wrong because now we are worried for Kyle’s safety in custody,” he said. Police confirmed that the cases were opened. Western Cape Community Safety and Security MEC Dan Plato said he understood the officer was acting as a concerned mother, but, as an officer, could not accuse the two suspects online of a crime. “There are official procedures to be followed, and police officers are aware of it. Police should not act with the understanding that they can take the law into their own hands,” Plato said. He said the officer was being investigated. By Barbara Maregele The Star 22/04/13 Early Edition |
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Crimes of the South African Police Service
