Cops fail to bring victim to court
2003-02-03 23:38
Riot Hlatshwayo
Malamulele - Two hospital security guards accused of beating mentally ill patient in public were provisionally let off the hook on Monday because police failed to bring the woman to court.
Malamulele magistrate court's control prosecutor Tshifiwa Mphaphuli said the charges may be reinstated once the woman was traced.
Phillimon Mabaso, 25, and Happy Maluleke, 32, were accused of punching and kicking the woman at the gate to Malamulele hospital on December 18 last year.
A shocked witness reported them to police.
The accused had told police that they had been trying to constrain the woman who became physically abusive because of her condition.
"The woman's parents allegedly had to tie her up and brought her to the hospital where she was released, but she then started assaulting anyone in her way," said Malamulele police spokesperson Inspector Moses Chauke at the time. - African Eye News Service
- News24