A police officer accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend has accused members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) of assault.
His lawyers revealed this when Sergeant Mbuyiseni Gema appeared in the Ixopo magistrate’s court for the second time on Friday.
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Before claiming that they were not ready to proceed with a bail application and wanted a postponement, they told the court that the Ipid officials who apprehended their client assaulted and intimidated him.
They stated that he made some of the statements under pressure as a result of torture. They also said that they would file an application to have the accused held in an isolated cell.
“The court’s holding cells put our client’s life at risk because he was being held with suspects he had arrested,” they said.
“We have consulted with the state and are going to ask that we are furnished with those copies of the said statements at the next appearance.”
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Gema is charged with premeditated murder and murder after allegedly murdering Busisiwe Ngubo, who was pregnant with his triplets.
Ngubo’s body was found on the side of the road in eHlanzeni. She was killed a day before she was set to give birth to triplets, according to sources.
Gema is still in detention, and the case has been rescheduled until August 31.
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