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Loonat to sue police

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Former Western Cape Community Police Board chairman Hanif Loonat says he feels vindicated, after charges against him was withdrawn in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Loonat is now calling for a full investigation into his “unfair and wrongful arrest” and plans to not only sue the police for damage, but also the woman who had laid the charges against him.

Loonat was arrested in February and spent three days in custody before being released on R5 000 bail. He was charged after visiting a woman’s house and allegedly threatening her.

“I will be suing for wrongful arrest, victimisation and for the pain and suffering that may family had gone through,” said Loonat.

Rukshana Parker accused Loonat of threatening to sabotage her job and harm her children. She has since contacted the Cape Argus to retract the allegations that have been published.

Loonat said Parker now wants to set the record straight and has since denied the claim made against him in her affidavit to police.

Parker has since told the media that the allegations against him were “unfair”.  She said Loonat had merely come to visit her to inform her about the allegations but that the threats were real.

Loonat believes the charges against him were part of an attempt by high-ranking police officials in the Claremont cluster to tarnish his name, after he had previously reported them for mismanagement.

“In a way, I regret that this case never came to trial. Had it done so, a lot of unsavoury details about (certain officers) in Claremont police… would have come to light,” he said.

“I will, however, be requesting a full internal investigation from the police,” said Loonat.

Loonat said he would sue the police for damages and the stress caused to his family, in addition to the three days he spent in “appalling” conditions in the police holding cells.

Western Cape police have declined to comment on the matter. VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)


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