Africa-Press – South-Africa. A police officer arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old boy after taking the teenager to different taverns around Soshanguve is still behind bars after being denied bail.
The 38-year-old officer, who holds the rank of sergeant, appeared in the Pretoria North Magistate’s Court last Thursday, where he applied for bail.
The officer, who cannot be named until he has pleaded to the charges, asked the court for bail of R1 000, citing his “ill health” as a reason.
However, the National Prosecuting Authority opposed bail, with the State prosecutor Nkhagweleni Phanuel Madavhi arguing that the accused was facing serious charges, and that releasing him on bail would undermine the battle against gender-based violence and the abuse of children.
“The magistrate agreed with the State and said the accused did not [provide] exceptional circumstances to warrant his release on bail before court,” NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said.
It is alleged that, on 7 October this year, while the teen was with his friends, the accused picked him up and drove him to various taverns, before ending up at Vicks Tavern in Soshanguve.
Mahanjana said:
“When they arrived at his car, the boy passed out, and when he regained consciousness in the wee hours of the morning, the minor was allegedly being raped in the accused’s bed.
“He [the police officer] then instructed him to get dressed and promised to drop him off at home.”
On the way to the teenager’s home, the accused allegedly stopped next to the road, pulled the victim out of the car and drove off.
The incident was then reported to police.
“The police reported the matter to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on 14 October 2022.”
The accused was arrested by IPID on the same day in a hospital, after he had voluntarily booked himself in at the “wellness ward”.
The court case has been postponed to 7 December for further investigations.
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