Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 2013-07-18

Lenasia police are allegedly extorting thousands of rands in hush money from legal foreign nationals residing in Lenasia; and all this in the holy month of Ramadaan.

According to a local resident *Ebrahim, two Muslim men whose names are known to Radio Islam allegedly stake out the Jaamia Masjid in Gemsbok Street in Lenasia allegedly acting as spy’s or informers for two uniformed Lenasia police officers.

*Ebrahim reiterates that these informers notify police officials of foreign nationals attending the Taraweeh salaah (night prayer) and the time that the salaah ends. These scrupulous Police officers (2 males) then stealthily wait, ready to pounce.

“It doesn’t matter if the foreign nationals have legal papers or not. The police officers allegedly apprehend them and drive them around in a police van before being taken to the Lenasia police station or extorting a bribe,” said *Ebrahim.

“People are afraid to spend time in the cells because they don’t want to miss ifthaar (the time when a person breaks fast) during Ramadaan, so they pay the bribe,” added *Ebrahim.

In an incident that transpired on Sunday (15 July) at 08:15am on the corner of Robin and Honeysuckle Avenue in Lenasia,  *Deepak & *Ramesh  who are foreign nationals and employed by a local barber were on their way to work when they were arrested by two uniformed Lenasia police officers whose names are known to Radio Islam.

The duos papers were in order, (a copy of which is in the possession of Radio Islam) but this did not deter the police officers from arresting them. Afraid to be taken to jail, the owner of the barber shop where the pair are employed paid the officers a large amount of money to have them released.

Captain Hector Netshivodza from the Lenasia Police Station said he could not comment at this stage until an investigation is conducted.

* Names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.