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Still no reason for pilot's arrest
26/03/2008 14:50 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Zimbabwe's police were not yet ready to release reasons for the arrest of a Johannesburg pilot hired to fly Movement for Democratic Change president Morgan Tsvangirai to election rallies, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.
"I haven't received the information concerning that particular aspect," said police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena, who had been expected to issue a press statement on the matter at 14:00.
He said he might have information at 15:00.
Brent Smyth and three other people were arrested at Charles Prince Airport outside Harare on Tuesday morning, while he was waiting to transport Tsvangirai to rallies in remote areas of the country.
He sent an SMS to his employer ATS aviation services saying he had been detained and taken into custody at Harare central police station.
The reason for his arrest was not immediately clear, but MDC treasurer general Roy Bennett said he had had a run in with officials on Saturday over his flight plan.
ATS CEO Wessel van den Bergh said they had hoped to glean information from the police's press statement, as they had no further information.
Smyth's fiance Drieksie Janse van Rensburg said she had received an SMS from Smyth early on Wednesday saying he had been taken for questioning.
She said his clearance permit to be in the country had expired at midnight on Tuesday while he was in custody. The department of foreign affairs said it also had no further information.
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