Murdered girl: Cops 'erred'
12/10/2005 15:58  - (SA)  

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Johannesburg - Police in Eldorado Park had erred in their handling of the missing persons report in the case of 6-year-old Gharoenisha Gandhi, Gauteng community safety MEC Firoz Cachalia said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters at the Eldorado Park police station, which was the centre of violent protest at the weekend, Cachalia said: "After my engagement with both the community structures and Gharoenisha's family it became clear to me that when the matter was initially reported police officers on duty made a serious error by turning the family away."

He said the police response to the family - that they should come back in 24 hours - was contrary to existing policy.

"The national instruction on missing persons specifically says 'the time period before someone can be reported missing or before the police can begin investigating does not exist'."

Investigations into the police's treatment of the family were underway.

Gharoenisha went missing last Thursday afternoon.

Her naked, mutilated body was found the next morning in an open veld close to her house.

No suspects had been arrested in the murder case, Cachalia said.

- SAPA

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