It took nine years to convict the former warrant officer. The incident took place in Montagu in August 2016 and was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
Image: Independent Newspapers
Disgraced ex-police officer, Frederick Soldaat, who was convicted last month for the rape of a 15-year-old girl has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
It took nine years to convict the former warrant officer. The incident took place in Montagu in August 2016 and was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
He also resigned from the police service in 2017.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the Montagu Regional Court has sentenced Soldaat to 25 years direct imprisonment after the court deviated from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment due to the accused’s medical condition.
“During the trial, State Advocate Heinrich Koert led evidence which revealed that the victim’s mother brought the victim to the trauma room following a disagreement with her daughter at home.
“The mother requested the police to assist by taking her to the police station so that she could calm down,” Ntabazalila said.
“Soldaat was one of the police officers who initially attended the complaint. Police took the victim to the station and booked her into the trauma room, where the accused had to complete an admission form containing, amongst others, the age of the complainant being fifteen at the time.
“He later visited her at least twice while she was in the trauma room.
“He claimed that the victim complimented the colour of his eyes. She initially did not resist, but when he started removing her pants, she then resisted, but he overpowered her. He then raped her in the trauma room. He left her after he finished raping her.”
The victim went home the next morning and then reported her rape to her mother. Her mother contacted the police, who resumed their investigation. The victim pointed out the accused, and the police arrested him.
“The state opposed bail, but the court granted him bail. The accused claimed the sexual encounter took place by consent, and he was unaware of the victim’s age.”
Ntabazalila said the case faced challenges before it could be finalised, which included it being in the branch court, which only sits once a week, the accused changing his legal representatives, causing delays as transcripts had to be typed, and allowing preparation time for his legal representative.
“Load shedding, the Covid-19 pandemic, and challenges with the CCTV system and the court recording systems caused some of the delays.
“In his arguments, Advocate Koert said the accused turned the very space where victims are supposed to feel protected and safe into the scene of his crime.
“The court needs to restore the trust of the community in the police so that future victims of such crimes will again feel safe and come forward so that justice can be seen to be done,” Ntabazalila said.
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecution, Advocate Nicolette Bell welcomed the sentence and expressed shock at the heinous crime committed by a police officer who was entrusted with the safety of the minor victim.
Bell said the sentencing provided justice and closure to the victim, her family and removed another violent criminal from the community.
theolin.tembo@inl.co.za