Johannesburg -
Two Tshwane metro police involved in the Gupta wedding are claiming damages of R100 000 each from the minister of police for wrongful arrest, Beeld reported on Tuesday.
According to the newspaper, Peter van Vliet and Lawrence Lee Thorpe's claim was served on Monday.
They reportedly spent a night and a day behind bars after allegedly being arrested without a warrant in front of friends and colleagues.
Their lawyer, Anton Smith, told the newspaper they were not on duty when Thorpe escorted Indian guests from Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria to Sun City, in North West, and Van Vliet travelled in a vehicle used for the wedding.
He said that at Sun City, they declared their official firearms, and these were locked in a safe.
Beeld reported that Van Vliet and Thorpe were arrested by the Sun City police on May 2 on a charge of contravening firearms legislation.
The arresting officers reportedly claimed they had been in unlawful possession of their official firearms, and should not have carried these outside the Tshwane district.
According to Beeld, Van Vliet and Thorpe appeared in court on May 3, but the state refused to prosecute.
Smith told the newspaper that if the damages claim was not settled within 30 days, the men would sue the police. - Sapa