It was unusual that the pocket book of the Metro Police officer who arrested Tony Yengeni three years ago for drunk driving was not signed by his supervisor, the ANC national executive committee member’s advocate said on Friday.
Dirk Uijs, for Yengeni, continued his argument that there was a possibility that the officer had falsified his account of his client’s arrest in 2013.
The defence questioned Metro Police officer Melvin Loggenstein, who issued the officer’s pocket book, during the trial in the Cape Town Community Court.
He confirmed he had issued the book to arresting officer Sergeant Jonas Gomba and had also put the book into the archive office once it was filled.
Loggenstein signed the book when it was issued and when it was returned.
Officers use the book to record details of incidents in case they have to testify in court.
When asked if the security of his office was foolproof, Loggenstein conceded that it was not.
But Metro Police Superintendent Jean Hesqua, Gomba’s supervisor, said the checking of the book was dependent on the availability of the officer’s manager and that there was "nothing peculiar" about his three-month records not having been signed.
Yengeni, dressed in a trendy navy blue suit, listened intently to the testimony.
Uijs previously accused Gomba of manufacturing details of the incident in his pocket book.
This was based on a comparison of the entry in the pocket book with the statement Gomba gave to police.
Uijs said most of the entries in the book were relatively short, but the one for Yengeni was unusually long.
The officer, during his previous testimony, denied forging his records and said he wrote a longer account as the incident was important.
Gomba, who took Yengeni into custody in 2013, said he called for back-up after four men dressed in black tried to obstruct him during Yengeni’s arrest.
They apparently told the officer he was not allowed to handcuff Yengeni, approached him in a threatening way and asked him if he knew who the NEC member was.
Gomba testified that Yengeni was being "riotous", swore and pointed his finger at him after he was pulled over after nearly hitting a curb in the Cape Town CBD while driving a white Maserati.
He apparently refused to take a breathalyser test.
Uijs previously said his client had refused as the kit had not been sealed.
Gomba said that while he was driving Yengeni to have him charged, the politician expressed regret for his behaviour.
He is currently out on R500 bail.
The trial resumes on April 4.
Source: News 24
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