Police brutality video: cops identified

A screengrab of the alleged sexual assault by Douglasdale police on YouTube.

A screengrab of the alleged sexual assault by Douglasdale police on YouTube.

Published Aug 27, 2015

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Johannesburg - Two Douglasdale police officers who were seen physically and sexually abusing a man in a video that emerged on Tuesday have been identified.

Douglasdale Community Policing Forum chairman advocate Jean Berdou has confirmed this with The Star.

“We await (the) SAPS provincial head office decision on suspension which we are strongly urging. We understand that there are a few labour relations and regulations issues that are being dealt with,” he said.

It is believed that the officers have been placed on leave until the decision to suspend them has been made.

The case of alleged police brutality was exposed after a YouTube video emerged, thrusting Douglasdale police into the spotlight again.

Shane* and Anton* became the latest victims on August 18 at about 3.30am, in a spate of alleged police brutality incidents.

“The police vehicle pulled up behind us. They told us to get out of the car. I climbed out and Anton was a bit slower and they pulled him out aggressively,” Shane recalls. One pulled out a gun and said if we move he’ll kill us. The police hit Anton in the head twice and hit him with (the butt of) a gun. Both officers tried to choke Anton until he fell unconscious.”

By now, Shane had started to record the incident on his cellphone. Anton can be heard calling for help as the officers throttle him. “Help! I can’t breathe!” he says.

Later in the video, Shane is heard crying as the officers are filmed pulling down Anton’s pants and sexually abusing him while he is unconscious. “I was crying because I couldn’t do anything to help Anton.”

During the video interview, Anton was too traumatised to speak about the incident. He sustained injuries to his head, face, leg and neck.

“We don’t know why they attacked us. Maybe it was because we were alone,” Shane said.

Douglasdale police spokes-man Warrant Officer Balan Muthan confirmed that a case had been opened and that police were investigating.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokeswoman Grace Langa said: “We will be allocating it to the investigator who will meet with the suspects, complainant and witnesses for further investigations.”

Douglasdale police station has been under scrutiny after several recent incidents.

In June, a man committed suicide in the back of a police van by hanging himself with his own shoelaces.

In March, officers allegedly refused to help a restaurant manager lay a charge against their colleague.

* Not their real names.

The Star

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