POLICE OFFICER DENIED BAIL FOR RAPING GIRLFRIEND
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the decision of the Richmond District Court after the prosecution successfully opposed the bail of the 34-year-old police officer based in Richmond who is facing a charge of rape. The Police Constable is accused of raping his 21-year-old girlfriend. The prosecution assisted by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigator responsible, opposed his bail based on the seriousness of the offence and that there is a likelihood that he, if released on bail, will endanger the safety of the complainant.
Through his legal representative, the Constable submitted to the court that if granted bail he would adhere to all bail conditions, such as monitoring by SAPS, which will suffice to assure the court that he is no danger to the complainant. The court however disagreed that the accused could do this and advanced, amongst limited resources and manpower, the fact that the constable himself did not even always report on duty and had a history of unpaid leave thereby crippling an already struggling SAPS to monitor and prevent crime. The court ordered that the accused be remanded in custody until completion of his matter. The matter was postponed for further investigation until 23 July 2024.
