Beaufort West - The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the officer in charge of overseeing prisoners in the holding cells following the brutal murder of a teenager in June.
Spokesperson Robbie Raburabu on Thursday said it was found that the warrant officer had lied in her statement during the investigation into the death of Gerdo Karelse, who was found dead while in police custody in Beaufort West.
She claimed that hourly checks had been done by the officers she was supervising as required by law.
“However, some of the names she mentioned to have been monitoring the cells were not even at the station at the time of the incident,” he told News24.
Karelse, 18, was found in his bloodied cell at 06:15 on Monday June 27 with multiple facial wounds. It is understood that he was found naked behind the cell door with his lips missing and his teeth scattered around him.
Zuko Mqungquthu, 29, who was his cellmate, was charged with Karelse’s murder.
Karelse was arrested the day before his murder on charges of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, and malicious damage to property.
Mqungquthu was arrested for domestic violence the previous Friday.
Police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie said police had also conducted its own investigation into the incident.
“The investigation has been finished and has been sent to the provincial office for decision,” he confirmed.
