Cops who stopped Gupta discharged

2012-03-06 14:39

Johannesburg - Two policemen who stopped and tried to search newspaper publisher Atul Gupta's vehicle in 2010 have been discharged for breaching police discipline rules, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

"They have been discharged and they have got 10 days to lodge an appeal," said Sandton police spokesperson Captain Kym Cloete, confirming a report in Beeld.

The two stopped Gupta's BMW X5 outside Johannesburg in September 2010 and searched Gupta's bodyguard and driver. Gupta refused to let them search his car and he was arrested.

Authorities decided not to prosecute Gupta.

Cloete did not know the finer details of the police internal investigation, and a provincial police spokesperson was not immediately available to comment.

However, she said the public was always entitled to lodge a complaint against the police if they were not satisfied with their conduct so that a disciplinary investigation could take place.

The two, named in Beeld as Constable Aubrey Mlotshwa and a colleague, identified only as Constable Mangema, were not on active duty currently, Cloete said.

Gupta, a publisher of The New Age newspaper, was on his way home to Saxonwold when the incident occurred.

Comment from Gupta was not immediately available.

In a reply to questions, Gupta said the two were dismissed following a full investigation by the Independent Complaints Directorate.

There was also a disciplinary process where all the parties involved could state their case.

His decision to complain was based on his desire to help ensure other citizens of the country did not have the same experience.

"It was a really tough process for me, my family and my colleagues, but one I was determined to see through to the end despite the challenges," he said.

- SAPA