A cop accused of raping a homeless man has been booted out of the force.
Charles Shane West, 21, has been freed from jail - but now finds himself without a job.
“The suspect has been served with a notice of dismissal from SAPS,” police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut tells the Daily Voice.
West was released on R2 000 bail at the Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
But he was ordered to have no contact with his alleged victim.
The court also heard that his co-accused has not yet been apprehended as investigations are ongoing.
West was arrested almost two weeks ago after the homeless man he allegedly sodomised went to the hospital and reported the crime to health workers.
It is claimed the man asked for a place to sleep at the police station when the accused took him to the back room to search him for drugs.
He then allegedly handcuffed the terrified homeless man before violating him.
“He pulled down his pants and raped him anally,” State Prosecutor Andile Ngiba told the court.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) launched an investigation after the victim lodged a complaint.
IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini confirms: “The reservist constable was arrested on June 9.
“On June 7, on Thursday evening at about 5.30pm, the complainant went to Bellville Police Station looking for a place to sleep as it was cold and raining.
“The victim allegedly spoke to police officers, who were standing outside the police building, and he was told to wait until 6pm.
Dlamini adds: “As he was waiting, he was called by an unknown SAPS member who was wearing civilian clothes.”
“The victim was allegedly taken to a room at the back of the station where he was handcuffed.
“The police officer allegedly told the complainant that he wanted to search him, the complainant duly agreed to be searched.
“Then the police officer pulled down the victim’s pants and underwear.
“It is alleged that the suspect then raped the victim.”
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut says the suspect was off duty at the time of the alleged incident.
*This article was published in the Daily Voice