Durban - The motorist who beat up an 83-year-old man, leaving him for dead after a minor accident, “ranted and swore” before hitting his victim without provocation and then leaving the scene.
These details emerged on Monday when the elderly Johannesburg businessman, Ismail Parak, was able to speak about the trauma which left him with broken ribs and a broken jaw.
The incident unfolded in Inanda Road near the N2 bridge on Friday evening.
To make matters worse, the police have sent the victim’s family from pillar to post as they try to get a case number.
They have been to the Newlands, Greenwood Park and Sydenham police stations, but policemen at all three said it was out of their jurisdiction.
Parak’s son, Faizal, said the police also refused to take a statement from a 14-year-old boy who was with Parak and who had taken down details of the motorist’s vehicle.
“Right at the onset we lost hope. The police said they could not take a statement from the 14-year-old because he was a minor.
“They had the suspect’s details, but were waiting for my father to recover before making an arrest. Two policemen took a statement from us in hospital.
They said the statement would be transferred to another station. We still do not have a case number. Tomorrow the suspect could do this to someone else,” he said.
Speaking from his bed in Shifa Private Hospital in Sydenham, Parak said a Nissan bakkie had overtaken him on the left, where there was no space to do so.
He had been turning right to join the N2 onramp to Umgeni Road when the vehicles bumped into each another.
Parak had been travelling in his friend’s Renault Megane with the boy, a relative.
“The other motorist started arguing and swearing, insisting that I was wrong. When I got out of the car I asked for his details. I asked him why he was swearing at me. I checked the damages.
“I ignored him because of his ranting and tried calling the police from my cellphone. He caught me unawares with a punch to the face. I only remember waking up in hospital in pain and shock,” Parak said.
Faizal said the child had intervened and asked the motorist why he was beating up an old man. The boy then took down the number plate and description of the vehicle.
Other motorists, witnessing what was happening, stopped to assist.
The driver got into his bakkie and sped off. Parak’s car had a slight paint scrape on the front right bumper.
“Witnesses said the man went ballistic. You can see the results of the beating he handed my father.
“We only spoke to him on Saturday afternoon when he came around.
“I thought he was going to lose one of his eyes. He looked like he had come out of a boxing match. His eyes and head were swollen.
“He would have put his hand up to defend himself, but I think he was unconscious,” Faizal said.
Parak had driven from Overport to see his daughter, who was arriving from Saudi Arabia after completing the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. But the flight had been delayed.
“He told them that even if she arrived at 11pm he would come to see her because he was in Durban. He was so happy,” Faizal said.
Parak has five children, 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, confirmed that a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm had been opened at Sydenham police station, but said it would be transferred to either Newlands East police station or Greenwood Park police station today. No arrests had been made.
He said the family’s claims that they had had trouble opening a case were being investigated.
Daily News