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NEWS > 24 October 2008

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Trooper Investigated for Misco
A state trooper at the Hazleton barracks is under investigation, accused of improperly using a stun gun.

According to Captain James Murtin, Corporal Shawn Noonan allegedly went to a party while on duty last month and used a stun gun on a group of people.

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... Read more

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Kormorant - Hartbeespoort,Sout
24 October 2008
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Residents urged to report misc

Complaints about conduct by certain police officials at the Hartbeespoort police station have raised cause for concern. Not only are there allegations of unlawfully forcing alleged suspects to use particular lawyers for their bail applications, but complaints have also been raised about residents being wrongfully arrested and held in custody when refusing to fall for hints for apparent bribes.
The Hartbeespoort Community Policing Forum (CPF) this week issued a request for residents who have been affected by this to contact the forum for the purpose of further investigation.
A lawyer working in the Brits Magistrates District expressed his own concern with what is happening at the Hartbeespoort police station regarding bail for suspects.
The lawyer told Kormorant that he has had a number of clients from the Hartbeespoort area who were arrested on minor charges. When he arrives at the police station to do the bail application with the investigating officer there are clear, although not outright, hints made for bribes.
“I remain professional and friendly although not listening to the hints. When the investigating officer realises that he will not receive a bribe the minor charge is bumped up to a more serious charge. The procedure then changes and the client then has to appear in court in order to be granted bail which means that they are kept in custody, either overnight or for the weekend,” he explained.
He said that when the case is then brought before the court the charges are usually either withdrawn or reverted to the lesser and original charge.
“I have had some instances where I had to petition a high court judge to grant bail when it is not really a high court judge’s job, just to secure some of my clients’ release on bail,” the lawyer said.
He said that residents of the Hartbeespoort area are being arrested needlessly and that that not only puts pressure on the investigating officers but also the courts. “Instead of completing the investigation and then obtaining an arrest warrant, suspects are being arrested and appear in court while the investigation is still ongoing,” the lawyer said.
The lawyer warned that should residents find themselves in a situation where they are called to report to the police station late in the afternoon or on a Friday afternoon that they should rather go away for the weekend and then report to the station early the next morning when the lawyer has time to petition a prosecutor, should the investigating officer refuse bail.
Complaints lodged with the Community Policing Forum revolved around residents allegedly being arrested when they go to the police station to lay charges against others. “They are then threatened that they will be held in custody in the police cells. The police official then recommends a lawyer known to him and sometimes the resi-dents are even forced to use this lawyer’s services. One instance is known where an amount of R5 000 in cash was paid to the lawyer to handle the bail application. No proof of payment was given. After this another R2 000 was paid over for bail. A receipt was given to the lawyer and not the person who paid the bail. The cases are then withdrawn by a prosecutor and the lawyer then claims the bail money for services rendered. This conduct is a gross violation of the codes of ethics and may even be criminal,” the CPF statement said.
The statement advises that police members are not allowed to favour one lawyer by recommending him to suspects. Police members are also not allowed to refuse to open a case. “Behaviour such as this by lawyers is unethical and may be criminal. The CPF has requested an investigation into this conduct by the North West Provincial Commissioner and is preparing a complaint that will be laid with the Law Society.
Residents who have been affected by such or similar conduct are requested to contact the CPF on 082 377 6032.
Snr. Supt. Thomas Lebese, station commissioner at the Hartbeespoort police station, said in response to enquiries that allegations were made and that the matter is subject to investigation.

 

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