POLOKWANE – A 59-year-old news editor from the SABC Limpopo was arrested and detained in police holding cells recently for defeating the ends of justice.
According to Limpopo Traffic Police officials, they were on duty on the morning in question along Silicon Street when the accused allegedly failed to stop at the stop-sign at the corner of Silicon and Hospital Street.
As a part of procedure he was stopped and, according to a traffic officer, there was an alleged altercation between the news editor and the officers.
Captain Ntobeng Phala of the Limpopo Police said: “In order for the officers to issue a traffic fine for the transgression as already explained, they (officers) asked for the driver’s particulars and it is further alleged that the said driver furnished false first names and a correct surname. He also provided them with a wrong house number and street name but correct suburb. The driver allegedly also refused to disclose his employment address and contact numbers saying he was unemployed and did not have any contact numbers”.
Police said an investigation was done on scene and it was discovered that the man had provided false information.
“He was arrested immediately. The officers escorted him to the school where he dropped off his children for class after which they took him to the police holding cells,” Phala said.
The accused will appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today (15 August) facing charges of Defeating the Ends of Justice, Furnishing False Information to an officer of the Law, and Reckless and or Negligent Driving. The possibility of adding more charges cannot be ruled out.
“Motorists should know that concealing information on demand by any law enforcement officer or furnishing false information to the officer compels the officer to take the transgressor into custody for a period of 12 hours or more in order to verify the information given if it is found to be false,” Phala concluded.
