Warrant Officer Maratshane found guilty and given a suspended sentence for assaulting a woman at a filling station in Smithfield, Free State

The Smithfield Magistrates Court has on 28 October 2013 sentenced Warrant Officer Maratshane to a fine of ten thousand (R10 000) or six months imprisonment, the sentence was suspended for five years. Maratshane pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) following an IPID investigation.

Video footage of the assault emerged early in April 2013 from the media. The IPID conducted an investigation and recommended that the suspect be charged for the offences which took place at a filling station in Smithfield and at the police station.

Since the victim refused to co-operate with the investigation, the DPP decided that she is a compellable witness.

Warrant Officer Maratshane has since been dismissed from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Issued by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

For enquiries:
IPID National Spokesman
Moses Dlamini
082 809 1927
mdlamini@ipid.gov.za