The Independent Police Investigative Directorate welcomes the conviction of a police officer who was found guilty of raping a woman by the East London Magistrates court today. Constable Thembinkosi Gqeku who was stationed at Kei Mouth Police Station was found guilty for an incident that happened on 08 August 2022.
On the day of the incident, Constable Gqeku went to fetch the complainant from her home under the pretense that he is busy with the investigation into a case that was opened by the complainant against her boyfriend. Constable Gqeku was an investigating officer in a case opened by the complaint against her boyfriend.
She drove to the police station and took the complainant to his office. The officer raped the complainant in his office. She later managed to escape and reported the incident to the Community Service Centre (CSC) at the same police station.
The incident was reported to IPID and the directorate took over the case for investigation. After thorough and independent investigation, the docket was handed over to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Constable Gqeku was arrested and charged for rape.
IPID is pleased with the successful conviction of the accused and hope this will send a strong message to other law enforcement officers who have evil intentions of using their positions to bring harm to ordinary members of the community. IPID also applauds the good work done by the investigating officers and the prosecutors in ensuring that the accused is found guilty of his illegal action.
The case was postponed to …. for sentencing.
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Phaladi Shuping
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ISSUED BY THE INDEPENDENT POLICE INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE (IPID)