East police ‘let robber go free’
Police tell victim she can't lay charges against alleged attacker because 'nothing was stolen' even though she was stabbed.
An east student is furious after the police let her attacker walk last week.
The student told Rekord the police told her she couldn’t lay charges against the man who tried to rob her and a friend then stabbed her because “he did not steal anything from her”.
She said the man was subsequently let go by police and, as far as she knew, still at large.
The student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was attacked last Tuesday around 08:00.
She and a friend were on their way to the campus when they were accosted by two men.
She said the two men demanded their belongings and when she became hesitant, a scuffle had ensued.
She said she bit the hand of one of the robbers and he stabbed her.
The attackers fled only when a passerby stopped to help the students.
Private security company CSI spokesperson Dana Bloem said the robbery in progress was called in and they immediately notified the police as they rushed to the scene.
She said witnesses told her officers the suspects had fled into nearby bushes.
“We searched the area and found one suspect who was busy changing his blood-stained clothes,” said Bloem.
“He also had bite marks on his right hand.
He was immediately detained and the victim later positively identified him as one of her attackers.”
According to the victim, when she went to the Brooklyn police station to report the case, she was told she could not “as the man did not steal anything from her”.
She said the police had instead told the student they would release the suspect unless he had an outstanding charge against him.
The man was subsequently released.
The victim was only able to open a case a day later.
Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said Brooklyn SAPS management was investigating the matter.
“Disciplinary steps will be taken if officers were at fault,” said Weilbach.
A case of attempted robbery with a weapon other than a firearm has been opened, she said.
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