Shop clerk irked at police

A Warner Beach shop attendant is outraged at the arrogance of KwaMakhutha police.

At 10am Friday morning, 12 KwaMakhutha SAP stormed into Kingsway Pawn and arrested shop attendant Christo Nienaber for suspected stolen goods.

“A customer looked at a laptop and then the police arrived,” said Christo. He showed the policemen the details of the laptop were recorded in the shop register as being pawned. The details of the register also matched the slip of the customer. “The policemen that came in to the shop were arrogant, intimidating and unreasonable,” said Christo.

Christo was taken to KwaMakhutha station, where police charged him with theft and house breaking.

After signing the charge sheet, thinking by doing so he would get bail, police refused Christo bail. He then had to call a lawyer. Christo was transferred to Toti SAP at 5pm that evening.

“The police at Toti SAP were really helpful. One officer phoned the prosecutor and the charges against Christo were dropped and Christo was released. He was not given a case number for the alleged stolen laptop.

“I had to pay a lawyer R6,000 for something I didn’t do. Police at KwaMakhutha treated me terribly,” said Christo.

 “The police intend to pursue further investigation on the charge of receiving stolen property against the shop owner and alleged failure to comply with the Second Hand Goods Act. It is a legal requirement for second hand goods dealers to ascertain lawful ownership of goods sold or tendered to them and to keep records of people selling or tendering such items,” said Captain Zwane of KZN Media Centre.

“The number of officers present during the arrest of the suspect were part of a crime prevention and police visibility policing operation in the KwaMakhutha SAPS precinct and was not specially assembled for the arrest of the suspect,” said Zwane.