/ 18 November 2004

‘You are a dead man and we will also get your wife’

Three police officers stationed at the Johannesburg serious and violent crime unit could be a danger to the community if released on bail, the Johannesburg Regional Court heard on Thursday.

The three — Captain Ravichandara Naidoo (34), Inspector Madidimalo Kgathi (47) and Inspector Sathisagren Govender (39) — were arrested earlier in November for allegedly stealing money and jewellery recovered from robberies.

The court also heard that threats were made against a member of the investigating team, which was set up on instruction of National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

The state also opposed the bail application because of ”the gravity of the offences”.

In an affidavit read to the court, one of the members of the investigating team said he had been threatened that his family would be ”taken out”.

According to the affidavit, he was threatened that ”you are a dead man and we will also get your wife. If she survives, she will be of no use to anyone.”

The three police officers face six provisional charges of aggravated assault, four of theft involving about R13-million in cash and goods, and four provisional charges of defeating the ends of justice.

They allegedly ”tortured suspects” until they revealed where they had hidden robbed money and goods.

The three allegedly also failed to declare some of their assets.

The bail application continues. — Sapa