A police officer in Paarl, Western Cape, was arrested for allegedly raping a 35-year-old woman at his home. (Alfonso Nqunjana/News24)
A 31-year-old police officer stationed at the Paarl police station in the Western Cape has been arrested for allegedly raping a 35-year-old woman at his home.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the incident allegedly took place on Sunday.
It is alleged the 35-year-old woman and her male friend were looking for a place to buy alcohol when they met the off-duty police officer at around 01:00.
“[They] asked him for a place selling beer. They all went to a certain house where the police officer bought two beers and asked the complainant and her male friend to come to his house,” Shuping said.
READ | Cape Town police officer arrested for allegedly raping 6-year-old
“On arrival at the house, they drank the beers, and the male friend later fell asleep on the couch.”
Shuping added the police officer allegedly assaulted the complainant, put a knife to her neck and raped her.
The woman then woke her male friend up and took off while the police officer went to the bathroom.
“She reported the incident to the police, and IPID took over the investigation after the suspect was identified as a police officer,” Shuping said.
The police officer was arrested on Monday and appeared in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
He cannot be identified because he has not pleaded to the charges.
The case was postponed to 9 July for a formal bail application.
