Policeman in dock accused of assaulting victims

11 February 2016 - 16:15 By TMG Digital

A policeman who allegedly participated in an act of vigilantism by joining four farmers in beating up two men has been arrested by the Hawks. "He was called to a crime scene where farm owners in Parys‚ Free State‚ were (allegedly) severely assaulting two suspects whom they accused of (involvement in a farm attack). Instead of rescuing the victims‚ the man of law allegedly joined in the feast and helped the farmers to beat the suspected men‚" according to Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the Hawks.Samuel Tjexa (35) and Seun Tangasha (29) later died in hospital.Captain Hendrick Jacobus Prinsloo‚ whose involvement was raised by an eyewitness‚ was positively identified during an identification parade and has already appeared before the Parys Magistrate’s Court on Thursday‚ the police said in a statement.He was released on R5‚000 bail and will be in the dock again on Friday where he will join Stephanus Johannes Jakobus Cilliers (34)‚ Anton Loggerberg (49)‚ Johannes Mocke Cilliers (61) and Gert Boeta van der Westhuizen (46) who also face two counts of murder.The Hawks said the four had accused the two deceased men of entering Farm Biesiebult in Parys‚ which is owned by Lodewikus van der Westhuizen‚ and demanded R20‚000 at gunpoint. Van der Westhuizen was hit on the forehead and arm with a firearm butt but managed to wrestle the attackers‚ got inside the house and pressed a panic button.Fellow farm owners came to his rescue and a search for the alleged attackers ensued until the farmers found Tjexa and Tangasha 8km away from van der Westhuizen’s farm‚ and allegedly beat them up...

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