Mungo Soggot
A 48-year-old father who was beaten into a coma by police is launching two legal battles against the police.
Farouk Juman and his family were driving through the Johannesburg suburb of Lenasia in April 1996 when he accidentally bumped into a policeman on a corner which is notorious for criminal activity. Three policemen assaulted Juman, his son and his wife.
The policemen all remain on duty – despite the fact that one of them has confessed to assaulting the Jumans.
The Jumans allege in court papers that the men, stationed at Lenasia police station, beat and kicked them. They were taken to the Lenasia charge office and transferred to hospital, where Juman lay in a coma for six weeks. Juman says in his affidavit he had a fractured skull, several broken bones and is frequently in pain.
On August 5, the policemen will be tried in the Protea Magistrate’s Court in a criminal case. Juman’s civil claim against the police – for R1 025 500 – has been postponed to August 14 pending the outcome of the criminal trial.
Haroun Kara, of the Wits Law Clinic, which is representing the Jumans, says one of the policemen, Constable J Naidoo, has made a statement under oath admitting he assaulted the Jumans.
Naidoo says he is willing testify against his colleagues who were party to the assault, in exchange for indemnity from prosecution.