'Al-Qaeda suspect' set free
2004-04-23 22:20
Pretoria - "You are not white enough to go to court," a policeman apparently told a Johannesburg man who had just been freed after 23 days without trial.
The Johannesburg man was freed on Friday.
Mohammed Hendi, 36, of Newclare denies al-Qaeda connections, which he said he was confronted with during questioning.
He was freed shortly before the High Court was to hear an urgent application for his release.
Hendi claims his ordeal started when he was invited by an Egyptian man to attend a discussion and watch a DVD on the September 11 2001 attacks in the United States.
Hendi, who was born in Kuwait, fled with his family to Jordan during the first Gulf War. He said he had been to a number of countries, including Germany, the Bahamas and the United States.
He came to South Africa 2½ years ago and married a South African woman, Serreen, in September 2002.
Men had guns, but no search warrants
He said that on April 2 his passport did not have a stamp entitling him to be in the country, because of negligence on the part of the department of home affairs and a computer problem there.
On April 2, between 03:00 and 04:00, about 10 to 15 men, arrived at his house without search warrants, but with "big guns".
Hendi was arrested and numerous documents were seized. They also called his wife, who had been working a night shift, to come and take care of their son.
He was taken to Moot police station in Pretoria where he was held in handcuffs. He was later taken to Brooklyn police station.
Hendi said no charges were brought against him. Men in civilian clothes, who questioned him, called him a terrorist.
"They never spoke to me without swearing at me."
On April 12 he and another Jordanian were taken to Johannesburg International Airport from where they were to be deported. The other man left the country, but he refused - even though he was offered money, he says.
According to Hendi, he told an immigration officer: "Listen my friend, I am going nowhere."
The Wits Law Clinic brought an urgent application before Pretoria High Court on Friday for an order that home affairs and the police either freed him or charged him in court.
Shortly before the hearing, he was freed without any reasons given.
Company has been irreparably damaged
"We are still trying to find out why he was arrested," said Joshua Paulson, his lawyer.
National police spokesperson Sally de Beer again refused to comment on the case.
Beeld brought the case to the attention of Leslie Mashokwe, spokesperson of home affairs, earlier this week.
"I need to familiarise myself with the facts before I can deliver credible comment," he said on Friday.
Hendi is considering legal action. His sweet company has been irreparably damaged in his absence and he had to sell two cars to pay his legal bills, he said.
"I know myself. I would never do anything wrong."