By Everson Luhanga
Four police officers have been arrested in Boksburg North in Gauteng for putting a foreign national in a coma.
A set of two police officers from the same police station have also been arrested assaulting and stealing copper cables from a scrap yard owner.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has confirmed that four of the officers were arrested on Wednesday for assaulting and torturing the foreign national so badly that he spent nine days in a coma.
The remaining two officers were arrested for assaulting a scrapyard owner and for stealing his copper wires.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping said the horrifying assault took place in the police cells on 9 January.
“The victim together with his friends were approached by the police officers who demanded to see their identity documentation. When the victim could not produce an original copy of the required documentation, he was taken to the police station where he was allegedly assaulted and tortured by the officers,” said Suping.
She said the assaulted victim was taken to hospital for medical attention where he spent the following nine days in a coma; he remains in critical condition.
“The four officers – a sergeant and three constables – face charges of assault, grievous bodily harm (GBH) and defeating the ends of justice.”
The four officers belong to the Boksburg North Visible Policing department. They were arrested at their place of work on Wednesday and are currently being detained at the Boksburg Police Station. They will appear before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Last week, police officers were filmed looking on while a group of criminals dug out and stole electricity cables outside Rieger Parks Police Station in broad daylight.
Pictured above: One of the officers is arrested for assaulting and torturing a scrapyard owner
Image source: Supplied
