Cops in court over inmate escape

2011-11-01 13:09

Johannesburg - Two police officers in charge of guarding a prisoner who escaped from custody have appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court, according to a news report on Tuesday.

The Beeld reported that after their court appearance on Monday, Student Constable Mphikeledi Alfred Mahlanga and Warrant Officer Amos Chris Masilela used their cellphones to take photographs of Beeld's photographer and the registration plate of his car.

Mahlanga and Masilela face charges of defeating the ends of justice and helping the prisoner escape.

They were arrested on Friday after the man they were guarding escaped through the window of a bathroom at Dr George Mukhari Hospital.

The man had allegedly raped a student of the University of Pretoria and stabbed her 23 times on Wednesday.

Mahlanga and Masilela allegedly transported the man to the hospital after he claimed to be ill, but did not restrain him with handcuffs or leg-irons.

Lungelo Dlamini told Beeld that an internal investigation into the escape had been initiated and further action against the policemen would depend on the outcome.

Beeld declined to comment on their photographer being followed by the policemen.

The newspaper published a picture of the two officers sitting on a bench outside court.

- SAPA