A Pretoria man arrested this week over the suspected killing of his wife was acquitted of murdering his first wife in Durban 14 years ago.
Prem Emmanuel Basdeo’s son Jordan was also charged with that murder and found not guilty, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Friday.
“Regarding the previous murder charge against the accused, the accused and his son were acquitted,” NPA spokesperson Phini Louw said.
Basdeo (58), a former police officer living in Brooklyn, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
He faces new charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice and perjury.
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The matter was postponed to next Thursday and he remained in custody.
Basdeo was arrested on Thursday after he reported his wife Dawn (57) missing about a week ago.
Dawn’s silver Mercedes Benz SUV was found abandoned in Soweto on Sunday.
Her body was yet to be found at the time of going to press.
Louw said further information on his acquittal of the murder of his first wife Neetha was not immediately available.
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According to news reports, Basdeo was a Superintendent at the Sydenham police station at the time.
His wife’s body was found in a shipping container on December 16 2000. She had been shot in the head.
The State alleged that Prem incited Jordan – then 14 years old – to kill his mother.
After his acquittal in the Durban High Court, Basdeo was quoted as saying:
“I am very glad it is over and all the evidence against me was fabricated, The police investigation was filled with lies and I am very bitter towards the police.
“I am a senior police officer who was treated without any humanity.
“They used my innocent son to implicate me in the murder. I don’t know who killed Neetha. I leave it in God’s hands.”
Rekord has emailed a request to a Basdeo family spokesperson for comment on the latest accusations, but a response was still being awaited.
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