The bail application of a Paarl police officer accused of raping a 14-year-old girl was delayed when the presiding officer was asked to recuse himself.
|||Cape Town - The bail application of a police officer accused of raping a 14-year-old girl was delayed at the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
“The investigating officer applied to the court asking for the presiding officer to recuse himself,” Western Cape NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said.
She believed the magistrate would not apply his mind to the case. She was also not ready to continue with the bail application.
“The magistrate dismissed the application for him to recuse himself, and gave the investigating officer until Friday to get ready for the bail application.”
The 41-year-old warrant officer allegedly raped the girl several times in April. He faces four counts of rape. The crimes were reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate on July 9 and the officer was arrested the following day. - Sapa