Sexual assault policeman gets bail
Captain accused of molesting pupils
The forensic investigating officer charged with sexual assault and rape of two grade 3 learners was granted R5 000 bail on Tuesday in the Protea magistrate’s court.
The 31-year-old captain, who cannot be named due to the nature of the crime, is facing a count of rape and two charges of sexual assault.
He allegedly forced two grade 3 learners from AB Xuma Primary School in Orlando East, Soweto, to show him their genitalia while he also allegedly inserted his finger in one of the complainants’ vagina.
The officer told the court through his affidavit that he did not sexually assault learners who he interviewed in preparation for a case against an expelled security guard accused of the same charges.
The captain, who is attached to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FSC) unit, told the court through his lawyer, Advocate Monwabisi Ngcaweni, that he simply interviewed the learners while seated at opposite ends of a table in a classroom at the school that had its door open. The officer has since been moved to the SAPS provincial headquarters where he is responsible for overseeing the register.
“On March 12, I reported for duty at Orlando police station’s FCS and then went to AB Xuma to interview 83 learners who were alleged to have been sexually assaulted by a security guard,” said the captain through his affidavit.
He said he called one of the learners on a list given to him in order to obtain her statement.
“I introduced myself and told her who was there to interview her in connection with Mkhulu’s case and that I was there to take down their statements.
“I asked her if she was interviewed at the Teddy Bear Clinic and she said yes, that’s when I ticked off her name so I could confirm with the clinic whether they indeed interviewed her.”
David Rankwe, the investigating officer from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, told the court he could not oppose bail because the J88 form contained in the docket did not correlate with the victims’ statements.
“The victims claimed that the accused inserted his finger in their vaginas. Even though there is a J88 form from the district surgeon; no injuries were recorded,” Rankwe told the court.
While handing down judgment on the accused’s bail application, magistrate Boysie Balepile said the officer showed exceptional circumstances during his bail application.
“The applicant does not pose a danger to the victims because he was removed from where he works and taken elsewhere because of the allegations made against him.
“His continued incarceration would impact his employment,” Balepile said.
The matter was postponed to Thursday for a trial date.