IPID secured a conviction of Assault GBH on a Prisoner being transported

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in the Free State has secured a conviction against a drunk police officer for Assaulting a Prisoner who was being transported from Robertsons in the Western Cape to Boksburg prison in Gauteng.

On the 21 of August 2021, the victim Mr Tlali Falatsi (28) who is a Lesotho Citizen was being transported from the Western Cape to Gauteng where he was awaiting trial on an offence committed in Gauteng. He was very severely assaulted by Sergeant Albert Fezile Gqabi (41) attached to Robertsons Detectives in the Western Cape who was one of the two police officers transporting him. Sergeant Gcabi is said to have been drunk at the time because he was drinking in the car while his Colleque was driving. The Victim indicated that he was hit with the butt of the pistol and fists on the Head, forehead, hip and he bled profusely from the wounds. The incident is said to have happened on the N1 Engen filling station in Bloemfontein when the Driver of the police vehicle he was travelling in was using a restroom. This was the second time it happened as moments before that, while the Victim together with the Accused relived themselves on the side of the road, he discharged his firearm in between them for no reason.

After the case of Assault GBH was opened at the Beinsvlei police station, IPID investigated the allegations and the case culminated in the Accused being found guilty of Assault 11 October 2023 in the Bloemfontein magistrates court. He was convicted of Assault GBH and sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of 5 years on condition that he is not convicted of a similar offence within a period of suspension and further convicted of contravention of section 120(4) of firearm control Act 60/2000 and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of 3 years on condition that he is not convicted of a similar offence within a period of suspension.

Following IPID recommendations, the Accused was also found guilty in a SAPS expeditious process for Assault and Discharge of an official firearm. He was only issued with a final written notice.
 

Mr Robbie Raburabu
National Spokesperson
082 926 1067 and 012 399 0056
E-mail: rraburabu@ipid.gov.za