|
Sheldean: 'Whitey' freed
25/02/2007 23:30 - (SA)
|
|
|
 |
|
| Hennie "Whitey" Smit, who has been released after being held by police in connection with the disappearance of Sheldean Human. (Alet Pretorius, Beeld) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liela Magnus, Beeld
Pretoria - Police have released a second man, arrested after seven-year-old Sheldean Human disappeared in Pretoria.
Hennie Smit, nicknamed "Whitey", was set free after two days, without charges against him, and without being told to remain in Pretoria.
He was arrested shortly before midnight on Wednesday at his mother's home at Club Marina in Ifafa Beach, KwaZulu-Natal.
Police brought him to the Hercules police station in Pretoria the following day with just the clothes he was wearing.
Smit says he passed the polygraph and voice analysis tests.
An emotional Smit told Beeld at his brother's home on Sunday: "This isn't acceptable to me.
Searching day and night
"My mother knows - I love children. What they did to me was a bit rough."
Meanwhile, the search for Sheldean continues as police work day and night to find her.
The search has been extended to KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Sheldean has been missing for a week after disappearing from her home in Pretoria Gardens last Sunday afternoon.
Smit said he saw Sheldean with Andrew Jordaan, the accused in the case, on the afternoon before she went missing, in Claremont Street in Pretoria Gardens. They were walking with Sheldean's friend, seven-year-old Heila Grobler.
Smit said: "I know Andrew vaguely. I asked him where he was going with the children and he said they were going to the park. Doesn't know Sheldean
"I didn't even know the children were from the Blue House."
He referred to the commune in which Sheldean lived with her parents as the "Blue House".
According to Smit, he never knew Sheldean and had never spoken to her.
He was visiting Chris and Hannelie Venter at the house when Sheldean disappeared.
Smit said: "When her mom said Sheldean was missing, I gave her money for petrol to go and ask Andrew (Jordaan) if he knew where she was.
"They went there, returned and said Andrew didn't know where she was.
"She said she'd wait until the following morning at 07:00 to see if Sheldean returned home."
Later that night, he went to friends and slept over.
Sophia Smit, "Whitey" Smit's sister-in-law, said she was stunned when she heard why he was being sought.
"I have a daughter and a granddaughter and I've never had any reason to suspect him of improper behaviour.
"It's totally ridiculous."
'Wasn't allowed to bath'
Smit's brother says they intend to file a complaint against police for wrongful arrest. They were due to see a lawyer on Monday.
Hannes Smit said: "The way my brother was treated at the station, was a shame. He wasn't allowed to bath for two days.
"What do they think? A person's not an animal.
"One policeman said he would be a witness for the State and a superintendent said he was also a suspect. How does that work?" he said.
News24 is now available on your cellphone.
|
