/ 11 August 2008

Policeman held for sexual assault

A Pietermaritzburg policeman arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a police station is expected to be served with suspension papers.

A Pietermaritzburg policeman arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a satellite police station is expected to be served with formal suspension papers this week, the Witness newspaper reported on Monday.

An unemployed 32-year-old woman claimed that she had gone to the Copesville satellite police station to call an ambulance for her sick three-month-old baby boy, when the police inspector allegedly demanded sex from her. Her baby later died and would be buried on Wednesday.

The police inspector was due to make his second court appearance on September 10. He was previously granted R1 000 bail.

The woman told the paper the incident took place in the station’s reception area early in August.

”I told him that I don’t sleep around, but he kept insisting on having sex with me. He later loosened his belt and unzipped his trousers to expose his private parts.”

She said his alleged advances continued for about an hour while she held her baby. It was only when the ambulance arrived that the officer stopped. But paramedics were too late and said the baby had apparently died minutes earlier.

A case was later opened and the officer was arrested. – Sapa