Cops in 'reign of terror' on foreigners

08 July 2016 - 08:41 By SIPHO MABENA

Pretoria Central police are alleged to have unleashed a reign of terror on foreigners, targeting them in a string of assaults, robberies, thefts and kidnappings for ransom.According to the victims' sworn statements, submitted to police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, members a Pretoria Central unit would tail victims to their home, where they would assault them while other officers searched for valuables.Cameroonian Said Nassoro told investigators that in April last year he was accosted by two police officers in the Pretoria CBD. He said he was assaulted and pepper-sprayed before being bundled into a marked police car, a BMW sedan. He was driven to his Arcadia flat where a laptop and R150,000 were stolen.Ipid spokesman Robbie Rabu-rabu said Nassoro was then detained at a police station."According to [Nassoro], the police officers searched his bedroom and took R50,000 and moved to the lounge where they took R100,000 in cash and his girlfriend's laptop from the cupboard," he said.Raburabu said Constables DM Mohlala and MV Manyase, as well as Sergeant LJ Mashishi, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on April 25 on charges of assault and robbery in connection with the Nassoro incident. They are each out on R2000 bail.Raburabu said that in another incident, in July last year, Nigerian Anthony Izundra was assaulted and robbed of $60500, allegedly taken from his hotel room by police officers who followed him from a bank.He was accused of carrying forged documents and detained for hours before being released.Raburabu said police reservists Peter Molobo and Victor Moloisi appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on February 25 on charges of robbery and assault. They are out on R2,000 bail each.Raburabu said the directorate was investigating at least 31 of the 70 reported cases, and that some of the crimes dated back to 2013.He said the cases included kidnapping, with foreigners being detained and ransom demanded from their relatives...

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