Armed robbery suspect claims police assault

Correspondent | Wednesday July 16, 2014 11:55

 

Appearing before Magistrate Basetsana Keakantse recently, Mlalazi claimed that while his two co-accused were sent to prison after being denied bail on June 13, he instead was taken to the Jwaneng police cells and assaulted.

“Police forced me to say what they wanted me to say,” Mlalazi told the court.

However, the prosecutor, sub-inspector Edwin Supang, said on the day in question, court finished late and for security reasons, the prison does not admit new remands on weekends. “I am surprised by the accused’s claims of assault as he never brought these to the attention of the station commander who checked him every morning,” he said.

Mlalazi, Khumbulani Dengedza, Akim Mlotshwa and two others not yet before court, are charged with violently stealing items worth P11,350 from a homeowner in Jwaneng. Supang said one of the missing suspects had been arrested with the help of Tlokweng police and was due before court as well.

He said the prosecution needed time to verify Mlalazi’s citizenship, the authenticity of Dengedza’s work permit and Mlotshwa’s legal status.

Supang added that there was a possibility of further charges being preferred against the accused, as a search of their home had uncovered possibly stolen items belonging to a victim yet to be identified.

 The trio was remanded in custody and the case continues on July 17.