State to oppose cop bail
The policeman, 40, a warrant officer based at the Bellville South police station in Cape Town, may not be named until he pleads to charges of rape and intimidation.
He made his second appearance on Friday, before Magistrate Shelton Cloete, who scheduled the bail application for July 24.
The intimidation charge results from death threats he allegedly made to police colleagues.
At his first appearance last Friday, he was remanded for a week for the State to gather background information that would enable the prosecuting authorities to decide whether to allow his release on bail, or to oppose his application.
At Friday's proceedings, the prosecutor said the investigation had revealed a pending fraud case against him in the Kuils River District Court.
The accused entered the prisoners' dock limping, and defence attorney Bradley Muller explained that he had a lower-back injury, which was aggravated by the "rough ride" he had in the back of the patrol vehicle that brought him to court last Friday.
He was currently being treated in the hospital section at Pollsmoor Prison, Muller told the court.
It is alleged the man raped two 14-year-old boys over a period of four years.
The warrant officer was arrested at his home on Wednesday last week, by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
Ipid spokeswoman Grace Langa said Ipid became aware on June 20 of the alleged rapes, and arrested the policeman on July 2 after allegations that he had threatened colleagues with death.
He was held at the Kraaifontein police station, where he slit his wrists in a suicide bid.
He was rushed to a clinic for treatment, and then taken back to the Kraaifontein police cells.
He is alleged to have raped the boys in a cloakroom at the Bellville South police station.
It is also alleged that he forced the boys to view pornographic material at his home, and paid them between R50 and R200 afterwards.
Additional charges may result from this.
(File photo: gallo images)
