Locked up after refusing to bribe metro cops

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http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2013/03/18/locked-up-after-refusing-to-bribe-metro-cops

A courier wants to take legal action against police who locked him up for two days over an irregularity with his vehicle license disc.

Mohale Joseph Gama describes the two nights he spent in a holding cell at Alberton Police station as the most horrible experience of his life.
The 34-year-old was stopped by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police while driving near Swartkoppies offramp last month.
Gama said the two policemen accused him of having a fraudulent licence disc because it described his vehicle as a “station wagon” rather than a panel van.
“The two policemen said they would arrest me if I did not give them a bribe of R500,” said Gama, but he refused.
Although Gama is a South African citizen, living in Diepsloot, the policemen insisted he was a Nigerian and accused him of not being the vehicle’s owner. He was taken to Brackendowns police station, but was later transferred to the Alberton police station. His vehicle was impounded
Gama said the Metro policemen told the station officers not to release him, and to only charge him at the end of the weekend.
“I was told about my rights but they didn’t let me make my one phone call and my cellphone was taken away,” said Gama.
He said he feared for his life in the holding cell.
“There were nine people inside in possession of knives, cell phones and dagga. I was scared.”

Gama managed to contact his fiancée after borrowing a cellphone from someone in the holding cell. But when his fiancé and brother came to the station, they were told he would not be released.
He was eventually released on the Saturday after being told by one of the officers that the only way he would be released was to paying a R500 admission of guilt fine.
His vehicle was only released to him a week later, which he said caused him to lose out on business. Furthermore, he said he was missing a large sum of money from the vehicle, R6 700, which he had been going to deposit for SARS prior to his arrest.

Warrant Officer Janet Makhubela, at Brackendowns police station, said the case, which was subsequently withdrawn, was recorded as fraud, as the vehicle’s license disc did not correspond with licensing department records.
The Automobile Association’s Gary Ronald said there should be no penalty for incorrect vehicle description as it is mostly an administrative issue.

“Under normal circumstances, a notice of discontinuation will be issued to the driver; ... the vehicle will be taken to the testing ground for inspection to verify what make it is.”

However, if there is a fraudulent transmission on a license disc, Ronald said the matter would have to go to court and no admission of guilt fine could be paid.
Makhubela said, “The public have a right to launch a formal complaint if they feel that they have been dealt with unfairly by the police”.
Earlier this month, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa instructed national commissioner Riah Phiyega to act urgently to "avert and reduce" lawsuits.

A total of 5090 civil claims were dealt with by SAPS during 2011/12. The legal costs of cases paid to state and private attorneys amounted to some R135 million.

Gama is taking legal advice and plans to take action against the alleged solicitation of a bribe by the Metro police, for unlawful arrest and alleged theft of his money.
“This experience has affected me. People think I am a criminal. My name has been corrupted,” he said.

* The public can report solicitation of bribes to: JMPD Anti-Corruption line 0800 203 712
JMPD Internal Affairs 011 490 1703
 
The Article gives the JMPD anti-corruption number, but this incident happened in Alberton.... which falls under Ekurhuleni (EMPD not JMPD).
 
Interesting. According to my license disk, my car (a hatchback) is also a station wagon. Am I in danger?
 
This article was so much more fun after it was put through Gizoogle :D

+1000000

For the people that don't know Gizoogle

A courier wants ta take legal action against five-o whoz ass locked his ass up fo' two minutes over a irregularitizzle wit his hoopty license disc.

Mohale Joseph Gama raps bout tha two nights da ruffneck dropped up in a holdin cell at Alberton Popo station as da most thugged-out wack experience of his ****in life.
Da 34-year-old was stopped by tha Ekurhuleni Metro Popo while rollin near Swartkoppies offramp last month.
Gama holla'd tha two five-omen accused his ass of havin a gangbangin' fraudulent licence disc cuz it busted lyrics bout his hoopty as a "station wagon" rather than a panel van.
"Da two five-omen holla'd they would arrest me if I did not give dem a funky-ass bribe of R500," holla'd Gama yo, but he refused.
Although Gama be a Downtown African playa hater, livin up in Diepsloot, tha five-omen insisted da thug was a Nigerian n' accused his ass of not bein tha vehicle’s balla yo. Dude was taken ta Brackendowns five-o station yo, but was later transferred ta tha Alberton five-o station. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch yo. His hoopty was impounded
Gama holla'd tha Metro five-omen holla'd all up in tha station officers not ta release him, n' ta only charge his ass all up in tha end of tha weekend.
"I was holla'd at bout mah mutha****in rights but they didn’t let me make mah one phone call n' mah cellphone was taken away," holla'd Gama.
Dude holla'd he feared fo' his thuglife up in tha holdin cell.
"There was nine playas inside up in possession of knives, beepers n' dagga. I was trippin like a mutha****a."

Gama managed ta contact his wild lil' fiancee afta borrowin a cold-ass lil cellphone from one of mah thugs up in tha holdin cell. But when his wild lil' fiizzle n' brutha came ta tha station, they was holla'd at da thug would not be busted out.
Dude was eventually busted out on tha Saturdizzle afta bein holla'd at by one of tha officers dat tha only way da thug would be busted out was ta payin a R500 admission of guilt fine.
His hoopty was only busted out ta his ass a week later, which da perved-out mutha****a holla'd caused his ass ta lose up on bidnizz. Furthermore, da perved-out mutha****a holla'd da thug was missin a big-ass sum of scrilla from tha vehicle, R6 700, which dat schmoooove mutha****a had been goin ta deposit fo' SARS prior ta his thugged-out arrest.

Warrant Officer Janet Makhubela, at Brackendowns five-o station, holla'd tha case, which was subsequently withdrawn, was recorded as fraud, as tha vehicle’s license disc did not correspond wit licensin department records.
Da Automobile Association’s Gary Ronald holla'd there should be no penalty fo' incorrect hoopty description as it is mostly a administratizzle issue.

"Under normal circumstances, a notice of discontinuation is ghon be issued ta tha driver; ... tha hoopty is ghon be taken ta tha testin ground fo' inspection ta verify what tha **** make it is."

But **** dat shizzle yo, tha word on tha street is dat if there be a gangbangin' fraudulent transmission on a license disc, Ronald holla'd tha matter would have ta git all up in court n' no admission of guilt fine could be paid.
Makhubela holla'd, "Da hood gots a right ta launch a gangbangin' formal complaint if they feel dat they done been dealt wit unfairly by tha five-o".
Earlier dis month, Popo Minista Nathi Mthethwa instructed nationistic commissioner Riah Phiyega ta act urgently ta "avert n' reduce" lawsuits.

A total of 5090 civil fronts was dealt wit by SAPS durin 2011/12. Da legal costz of cases paid ta state n' private attorneys amounted ta some R135 mazillion.

Gama is takin legal lyrics n' plans ta take action against tha alleged solicitation of a funky-ass bribe by tha Metro five-o, fo' unlwack arrest n' alleged theft of his crazy-ass scrilla.
"This experience has affected mah dirty ass. Mutha****as be thinkin I be a cold-ass lil criminal. It aint nuthin but tha nick nack patty wack, I still gots tha bigger sack. I be a gangsta yo, but y'all knew dat n' mah name has been corrupted," da perved-out mutha****a holla'd. Y'all KNOW dat ****, mutha****a!

* Da hood can report solicitation of bribes to: JMPD Anti-Corruption line 0800 203 712
JMPD Internal Affairs 011 490 1703
 
Sad state of affairs. The cops keep on dragging their names in the mud more and more.

Also very scary - i don't intend on bribing cops - it fosters corruption, but for my own safety what are my choices?
 
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