'Not a crime to rob whites'
2007-04-23 16:05
Walter ka Nkosi
Nelspruit - A man accused of robbing a woman of R30 000 outside a bank claims police have arrested the wrong man.
Patrick Lucky Malinga, 25, of Msogwaba appeared in Nelspruit magistrate's court on Friday on charges of robbing a woman of her handbag, which contained R30 000, outside Absa bank in the city centre.
Sergeant Michael Lusiba testified that when he took Malinga to the police station, Malinga said he deserved to be let off because he had not robbed a poor black person, but a rich white woman.
"He told me this was a free country and he didn't deserve to go to jail for robbing a white person, only a black person," he said.
Malinga has pleaded not guilty to theft.
Malinga has testified that he was withdrawing money from an ATM when he saw a man running past him and drop something that looked like a handbag.
Malinga said he was surprised when private security guards came to arrest him and handed him over to the police.
"Your worship, I swear that the guards and the police arrested the wrong man because I am innocent enough to be let free," he said.
Magistrate Vanessa Joubert postponed the case to May 25 for further evidence.
Malinga was remanded because he has failed to raise R2 000 bail.
- African Eye