Trio in dock over ‘hijacking’
THREE friends appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of defeating the ends of justice after they allegedly opened a false hijacking case with police.
As Dynolen Krishna, 22, Mahomed Abdool, 19, and Samuel Vollmeer, 18, all unemployed, stood in the dock, their parents, who support them financially, sat anxiously in the public gallery.
The friends from oThongathi (Tongaat) claimed they had been hijacked by a hitch-hiker on Friday night while travelling in a VW Polo along Watson Highway Road.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said the men claimed they were stopped by an unknown person who wanted a lift.
“The hitch-hiker allegedly pointed a weapon at the driver (Krishna) who was instructed to drive towards Umdloti. While at Umdloti the said vehicle crashed into another vehicle and into a barrier.”
Zwane said the men claimed the alleged hijacker had fled and nothing was taken.
“Police obtained sworn statements from all three occupants of the VW Polo who stated that they were hijacked.”
However, an investigation by detectives showed that this might not have been the case, he said.
Zwane said the three men were arrested and charged with defeating the ends of justice.
“This is once again an indication that our police officers will not condone the misuse of police resources through the opening of false cases.”
The men were released on bail of R500 each and are due back in court next month.