Woman raped in prison cell
2006-07-13 22:41
George - The police officers who apparently locked an 18-year-old woman in a holding cell with four male teenagers, could be suspended after she was reportedly brutally raped.
The police officers apparently claimed that the woman was put with the men because the cells at a nearby police station were full.
The woman was arrested in Conville, a George suburb, because she was allegedly under the influence of alcohol in public on Saturday evening.
Captain Malcolm Pojie, police spokesperson in the Southern Cape, said she was taken to the Thembalethu Police station about 4km from Conville, because the cells at the Conville police station were full.
The woman was allegedly put in a cell with four teenagers - the youngest 14 and the oldest 17.
The teenagers, suspected of housebreaking, apparently took turns to rape her.
Pojie said two police officials found the woman. She told them that she had been raped and was immediately taken out of the cell.
The law states that men and women may not be put in the same cell.
Pojie said a senior officer had been appointed to undertake a departmental investigation into the incident.
The teenagers were charged with rape and they appeared in court on Tuesday.
An independent investigation may be launched.