Suspects to sue police after death in custody
THREE men arrested and detained with a man who was allegedly tortured to death during an interrogation intend to sue police for damages.
DECEASED: Lebogang 'Bombe' LodiThe men were arrested with Lebogang "Bombe" Lodi, 28, who apparently died while in the custody of Chamdor police on the West Rand last Wednesday night.
The men had been arrested by heavily armed police officers at Lodi's parents' home in GaRankuwa, near Pretoria, allegedly in connection with ATM bombings.
The men's lawyer Maditsi Mphela said: "From an adjacent interrogation room, the three could hear Lodi screaming in pain while someone yelled at him to answer."
Mphela said shortly thereafter his clients were transferred to Kagiso police station. He said two of the men were released on Friday and the third on Sunday after they were "profiled".
He said an unidentified fourth man, who was with Lodi in the same interrogation room, was still in police custody. Mphela said the three men were "highly traumatised". He said he would meet them again tomorrow to finalise their statements.
Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale would only say: "We cannot investigate one of our own," and referred all queries to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The IPID's Moses Dlamini said they had decided to send a pathologist to represent the directorate at the postmortem due to take place yesterday.
Dlamini would not comment on claims that Lodi's clothes were covered with blood. He said "that formed part of the investigations".
"It is alleged that Lodi was taken to Chamdor SAPS on the West Rand, where he was tortured," Dlamini said.
"He was then taken to Leratong Hospital in an unmarked vehicle, but was not admitted due to the fact that he was already dead."
He confirmed that police then took the body to the Roodepoort state mortuary, where "apparently the police tried to have the postmortem done before the family became aware of Lodi's death".
Dlamini said no arrests had been made yet and investigations were continuing.
Lodi's fiancée, Tshidi Baloyi, said when she and his family went to the morgue to identify the body a day after his death, police would not allow them to see the body.
"They showed us visuals on a computer screen.
"They told us we could not see the body before a postmortem was conducted," Baloyi said.
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NICEBOOBS
We are no longer safe mo Mzansi - the police are killing people like during the apartheid era.Report Abuse
mangena1
these police are thugs who wonders? if you are led by very rude people you also become extremely rudei real dont like these arrogant cap wearing people
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KGS000
This is what happenes when you recruit thugs to become police and I bet no one is going to be charged for his murder because these thugs cover for each other.Report Abuse
Kaylae
Handsome Lodi you died before your time cause of stealing,eish may your soul rest in peace.He confirmed that police then took the body to the Roodepoort state mortuary, where "apparently the police tried to have the postmortem done before the family became aware of Lodi's death".
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This statement alone has loopholes who gave them the right to conduct a postmortem without the knowledge of the family.corrupt police ekse
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Papage
These boys must stop stealing and the Family must tell their sons to stop stealing, dont come and cry when they are killed, you knew from the start that your son/husband is a thug, now crime does not pay.Report Abuse
Little_Dude
NICEBOOBSWe are no longer safe mo Mzansi - the police are killing people like during the apartheid era.
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Midrand SAPS offcials number one Mzansi thugs.
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Voetzek
Interrogation is not means to kill someone, " we cannot investigate one of our own" the statement said it all and will end up saying no evidence, believe meReport Abuse
lindsay
i thought torture was outlawed mos now who brought it back? the three men are suing for what exactly are they dead too? they are highly traumatized by what? this is ridiculous the lawyer is taking chances here.Report Abuse
Flemza
My God these guys are criminals , even though they at times do pay my salary when I represent them in court , there is nothing to sue the police about , the criminal is dead , minus one crime and ATM bombing , so nothing to sue the police for.Report Abuse
missteeque
@papage. the only people who deserve to be killed r those who murder other human beings! finish n klaar! i am not by any means saying what he did for a living was good its not! we live in fear each and every day of our lives because of thugs. but police r on this power trip its ridiculous! he didn't have to die! if u grew up in a township i'm sure u know 1 or more thugs! they lurk everywhere but they're not ALL murderers contrary to popular belief! People in all levels of society steal! its just the manner in which he steals that deems him a criminal. politicians steal from THE POOR everyday!Report Abuse
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