Durban - A furious eManzimtoti businessman has laid a charge of robbery after eight armed and uniformed policemen arrived at his workshop in five police cars - sirens blaring and blue lights flashing - and forcibly removed a colleague’s private vehicle without paying for repairs.
Closed circuit television footage shows the policemen terrorising staff at Barry’s Auto Clinic, at the Southgate Business Park at around 4.l5pm last Monday.
They then towed the private vehicle using a tow truck without registration plates.
Three of the police vans are believed to be from the eManzimtoti police station and two high-powered vehicles - a BMW and a Mercedes - have been traced to the uMlazi Tactical Response Team (TRT).
“The way these guys stormed the place it made it seem like I was being raided,” said businessman Barry Male. “I have lost business since then. This incident has made me look like the bad guy.”
He said it was absurd that the policemen abused state resources and time to bully their way into his business.
Male said his customer, a warrant officer at the eManzimtoti police station, had brought his VW Caravelle in for repairs on December 10.
He said he had quoted on the job and the policeman had paid a deposit.
“The vehicle had major mechanical problems. We repaired it and it was ready for delivery on January 3. But the policeman could not fetch it because he did not have the balance of the money to pay for the repairs.”
He said for the past five months he had been struggling to recover repair and storage costs from the policeman.
“I went to his house on several occasions to try to reach a settlement with him. But each time I was told he was here, there and everywhere. He just avoided me.”
As a last resort Male said he threatened to sell the vehicle to recover his expenses.
“On Monday, just as we were about to close, five police vehicles with sirens blaring and blue lights flashing, drove into my yard at high speed.”
Male, who was not in at the time, said the policeman who had given his vehicle to be repaired, walked into the workshop and ordered all the staff to stand in a corner.
“He, like all the other cops, was armed and dressed in full uniform. He told my foreman that he was there to take his vehicle and that he was not settling his bill.”
The foreman then phoned Male.
“I spoke to the policeman and told him he could not take the vehicle without paying for it. He said he did not care and was going to take the vehicle.”
Male said he then spoke to another policeman and tried to reason with him.
“I told him I had contacted my lawyer and this was a civil matter and not a criminal case. He swore at me. He said he was SAP and did not care about my lawyer.”
Male said the policemen then used a tow truck without licence plates and took the vehicle from his premises.
He opened a case of business robbery at the local police station.
“This must be fully investigated and these guys must be brought to book. They have no regard or respect for the law. They should not be wearing that uniform... it is a disgrace to our country.”
Male said the policemen should have been using the same resources and time to fight crime which was rampant in the eManzimtoti area.
Police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, confirmed the incident had been reported.
“The matter is receiving the attention of eManzimtoti SAPS. The circumstances around the incident will be thoroughly investigated,” Naicker said.
Daily News