Ipid to oppose bail for senior cop who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend in front of her 9-year-old son

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) says a senior police officer accused of assaulting his partner, who is a police constable, should not be granted bail due to the gravity of the allegations.

The officer, from Welkom in the Free State, is expected to appear in court on Friday following allegations that he assaulted his girlfriend in a series of violent incidents on November 17.

According to Ipid's Lizzy Suping, the officer allegedly assaulted his girlfriend both at a local tavern and at their shared home.

“It is alleged that the officer went to the tavern to fetch his girlfriend, but she refused to leave with him as she was still with her friends,” said Suping.

The officer reportedly dragged the woman out of the tavern, but patrons intervened. The couple eventually left together.

The situation is alleged to have escalated further upon their arrival at home, where the officer is accused of strangling and punching the woman in front of her 9-year-old son. 

The officer made his initial court appearance on November 15 and the matter was postponed to Friday for a formal bail application. Suping emphasised that Ipid would strongly oppose bail.

“Given the seriousness of the charges, we do not believe it would be appropriate for the accused to be released at this stage,” she said.

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