Attorney arrested for reporting client's gun missing, plans to sue

A Johannesburg attorney said on Monday he will sue the police after he was arrested for allegedly defeating the ends of justice.

"I am not only suing, but when it goes to court, I will make sure the minister of police is there to explain the actions of his employees," Martin Hood said.

"This [intimidation] has happened to people on too many occasions."

Hood, the legal representative of the SA Gun Owners' Association was arrested at the Fairlands police station, Johannesburg, on Friday at a meeting with an investigating officer.

He was representing a client who had reported the loss of his firearm after being mugged. Hood said he was arrested because the client was not with him at the station.

The client had previously asked Hood to help him prepare his statement to the police on the gun, because the client had heard that police automatically arrested people for the negligent loss of a gun, despite the circumstances.

Hood said he went to the station after police allegedly bullied the client on two separate occasions.

Gauteng police said they would comment on the incident later in the day.