Man held after attack in St George’s Park

THE municipal security directorate’s investigation unit has arrested a man believed to have attacked a metro official in St George’s Park.

Municipal parks assistant director and principal horticulturist Charl Meyer, 41, who is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit at St George’s Hospital, was attacked by two men while leaving his office in the park three weeks ago.

Michael Maartens, 20, appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was released on warning while the investigation continues.

Maartens was arrested on Thursday following a tip-off from a person who witnessed the attack.

Security directorate officials responded and found Maartens on a park bench near to where the attack happened.

Directorate officials said they had been searching for Maartens since last week after the witness gave them a description.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed Maartens’s arrest, but declined to provide more details as the investigation was still under way.

The municipality’s security investigation team was roped in to assist with the case after police detectives closed the investigation within a week of the attack.

Detectives reopened the case on Wednesday, changing the charges from common assault to assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

After Meyer was attacked, allegedly by Maartens, a fight ensued and Meyer was badly beaten and allegedly robbed of his watch.

Naidu said that while the motive for the attack was still unknown, robbery had not been ruled out.

Meyer was admitted to hospital for treatment and discharged shortly afterwards, but was readmitted two days later.

A copy of the original statement taken by police officers a day after the attack – which Weekend Post has seen – paints a picture of Meyer being confused, but says he saw the two attackers in the park prior to the incident.

Maartens will appear again in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on May 24.

IN CUSTODY: The municipal security directorate’s investigation unit has arrested a man believed to have been responsible for the attack on a metro parks assistant director outside his offices in St George’s Park