Claims of torture in cop 'killer' case

A murder accused cop told a court that he was harassed and tortured by police officials who tried to force him into making a confession.

Pretoria - Murder accused Constable Rishen Rampashard told the Pretoria Magistrate's Court he was harassed and tortured by police and the Hawks.

In his affidavit, Rampashard said he was taken in by police officials who tried to force him into making a confession.

When he refused, he was slapped, choked and had a plastic bag put over his head until he almost suffocated, soiling himself in the process.

He was appearing for a bail application on Thursday.

“Despite being co-operative with investigating officer from the very beginning, they forcefully grabbed me and shoved me into the back of the sector vehicle. I was kept for five hours being forced to make a statement and refused contact with my legal representative,” his lawyer Kineil Muthray read from the affidavit.

“I was tortured for two days until I was eventually found by my legal representative at the time.”

Rampashard alleged that even though he refused, he was taken to the scene of the crime and forced to point to specific areas while police took photographs of him.

“Upon my return to the police station, I was forced to sign a statement and when I refused my thumb was forced on the ink pad. When I protested that it was invalid, they forced me to sign the document,” read the affidavit.

Rampashard is charged with the murder of Lieutenant-Colonel Reiner Lagois, 51, who was shot at his Rietondale home on January 19.

He is also facing charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and unlicensed possession of ammunition and defeating the ends of justice.

At least 14 spent cartridges were found on the scene, although Lagois had seven bullet wounds.

Investigating officer Captain Fire Masilela said Rampashard became a suspect as he was too busy on the scene despite not being involved in the case. Lagois’s family also started voicing their concerns about his continued presence there, among other things.

Masilela said Rampashard asked to make a confession that he had in fact colluded with Caroline Naidoo, a former police station commander and girlfriend of Lagois, on how to kill him. There was to be money for them, he said.

“He, of his own volition, said he wanted to make a confession as it was bothering him. He told us how Naidoo let him in the house, gave him Lagois’s firearm and told him to wait until he came (home) and make sure he was dead,” said Masilela.

“He then told us that he tried to destroy the gun at a nearby park, and when that failed, he decided to throw it in the dam.”

The investigating officer said although the relationship between Rampashard and Naidoo was still under investigation, they discovered phone records and cellphone photographs proving it was romantic.

“We’ve established that they have gone on holidays in Durban and hunting in September and at some point, it was discussed between the two that should anything happen to Lagois then they would get money.

“It was also noted that should he (Lagois) die while in the line of duty then an additional R250 000 would be paid,” said Masilela.

He said the claims of torture and assault were upsetting as they remained professional and respectful at all times in their interactions with Rampashard.

He asked that Rampashard be denied bail. The bail application was postponed to February 25.

goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za

Pretoria News