Cop who raped abuse victim suspended
2011-11-22
08:09
Polokwane
- A Limpopo police officer who was
arrested and charged for the rape of a domestic violence victim has been suspended without pay
from the police service. Warrant Officer Isaac Rammala, 45, was arrested last
Friday after he allegedly raped a woman on police premises. “He has been
suspended from the service without pay according to Section 43 of the SA Police
Service Act,” said provincial police spokesperson HangwaniMulaudzi on Monday.
Rammala was granted R1 500 bail by the Seshego Magistrate's Court. His case was
postponed to 24 January 2012 pending further police investigations. He is
accused of raping a 21-year-old woman who was temporarily housed at the Seshego
police station for social worker counselling. 'Should rot in jail' It is
alleged the victim went to the police station on Friday night after
experiencing domestic violence. The victim was then taken to the Victim Support
Centre for temporary accommodation pending social worker intervention, where
she was then allegedly raped by the officer. The woman immediately reported the
matter to the police in the Community Service Centre. Rammala was arrested and
stripped of his uniform. The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General
Simon Mpembe, has condemned the incident and the granting of bail to the
suspect. He said that if the allegations were true, the alleged rapist did not
deserve to be in the police service. “He should rot in jail for what he did to
this innocent woman. He is a disgrace to the SAPS and to community he serves. I
suspended him with immediate effect. I do not work with criminals and that is
the bottom line,” Mpembe said.
