NINE cops from Chatsworth Trio Crime are in the dock after a suspect died in Chatsworth police custody in 2018.
Eric Morjane (44), Mlamhli Ntutuka (39),
Andries Botes (46), Ralph Ogle (43), Eric Karsen (39), Muhammed Raoof (52), Pushpanthan Pillay (48), Sihle Ngidi (39), and Trevor Chetty (44) face charges of torture, attempted murder, murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
The nine officers were arrested on Tuesday morning, 28 September and made a brief appearance in the Durban Regional Court where they were granted R3 000 bail each.
Their arrests brings the number of cops bust for the same case to 18. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) arrested nine other cops last Thursday, 23 September.
The nine who were arrested last Thursday were also granted R3 000 bail each.
The suspects are linked to the murder of a man who, on 28 August 2018, was picked up by police which included the Durban K9 Unit, Chatsworth Trio Crime, Durban Flying Squad and Provincial Organised Crime Units regarding a firearm which was sold to the dead man after it was used in a murder in Chatsworth.
It’s alleged that the dead man was picked up from a petrol station along with two other men and they were questioned regarding the firearm.
During questioning, the dead man and two other men were allegedly assaulted by the police.
The three were taken to Chatsworth cop shop for further questioning and at about 3am, the victim collapsed at the police station.
He was taken to RK Khan Hospital in a police vehicle and upon arrival, he was declared dead.
In court, prosecutor Surekha Marimuthu asked the matter to be postponed since there was plenty of paperwork that still needed to be processed.
Magistrate Sophie Reddy postponed the case to 25 October.
Ipid spokeswoman Grace Langa said there were still more people to be arrested in this matter. She said they were looking at arresting four more suspects, who are also within the SAPS this week.
