Panty speedster safe – for now

The man claimed he was speeding because he was late for an appointment.

The man claimed he was speeding because he was late for an appointment.

Published May 3, 2012

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The biker who was arrested because a pair of panties apparently obscured his licence plate is off the hook - for now.

The Ekurhuleni metropolitan police department nabbed the 48-year-old man on Tuesday morning after a high-speed chase on the N17. He was charged with trying to defeat the ends of justice, but avoided a charge of reckless and negligent driving because officers did not have a speed-measuring device with them.

A registrar at the Germiston Magistrate's Court said the suspect's case had come before the court yesterday, but had been “nulled” by the senior prosecutor.

She said the case needed further investigation and had been removed from the court roll.

The suspect will appear in court again when the investigation is complete and he receives a summons.

Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said police had tried to pull the bike over as it turned on to the N17 highway at the Rondebult Road onramp.

The driver, who had a female passenger, sped off, precipitating a high-speed chase along the west-bound N17 freeway.

An SAPS helicopter was called in to stop the bike after police ground units could not keep up with the suspect.

Kgasago said the suspect had realised he could not escape the helicopter and pulled over at the Wits Rifles Drive exit near the Rand Airport.

He said the man had claimed he was speeding because he was late for an appointment. - The Star

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