Police officer allegedly raped shoplifting suspect at court
A police sergeant has been arrested for the alleged rape of a
teenager, shortly after she appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrates Court.
According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the 17-year old victim was separated from the other detainees and taken to a room after her case was adjourned on Monday.
There, the police sergeant apparently demanded sex from her and when she refused, he threatened to influence the prosecutor to hand her a lengthy sentence.
In a statement, IPID says the suspect then raped the young woman.
The Sergeant is based at Nelspruit Vispol in Mpumalanga.
During the subsequent IPID investigation, the suspect handed himself over and was arrested in the presence of his legal representative. He appeared at the same magistrates' court on Friday on a charge of rape and released on bail of R500.
The case has been postponed until 30 October 2018.
IPID says it has recommended that the SAPS initiate disciplinary action against the officer.