22 March 2012
The Commissioner
Steynsrus Police
Dear Captain
CHARGES OF ASSAULT
AGAINST WO ERASMUS
Please refer to CAS/CR 35/01/2012 dated 22 January 2012. I
was charged with crimen injuria and WO Erasmus implicated that I sweared at
him. B6783128 was then issued. I can't recall that I sweared at WO Erasmus and
I doubt if this is true because it is not in my nature to swear at all. An eye
witness said that she did'nt hear me swear at WO Erasmus.
What happened at that day was when I stopped at me. Susan
Coetzee's house to visit her, WO Erasmus stopped next to me with the police
van. Me. Coetzee is living at 7
Botha Street
After the so called arrest I went straight to me. Coetzee's
house as I knew she would be worried about me. When I arrived at her house she
find that my head was bleeding due to an injury caused by the attack of WO
Erasmus. I most probably hit my head somehow in the police vehicle when WO
Erasmus brutaly thrown me in the back of the van. I also suffered a severe pain in my neck and back.
The next day I went to consult my doctor in Kroonstad and
after she examined some x-rays, she confirmed that I've got a neck injury
caused by the attack of WO Erasmus. My doctor also subscribe a heavy dose of
pain killers which I need to take up to four times a day. I will not be
surprised if I need surgery in the very near future.
I'm an old man of 75 borned in the Netherlands
By two occasions WO Erasmus threatened me to pay the fine as
implicated by the B6783128. The first time was at the outside of Steynsrus
General Store and two days later outside the local Post Office. In both
instances he threatened me that if I don't pay the fine he'll have no choice
but to arrest me again. I was afraid of being intimidated by the police again
so I paid the fine. I however made a note on the B6783128 at the magistrate's
office that I pay the fine "for my
own protection" and because I don't remember what happened that day. I
can't remember what happened that day most probably because I didn't do
anything wrong.
I only realise now that WO Erasmus was very anxious for me
to pay the fine because he was afraid that if I go to court it will be revealed
during the trial that WO Erasmus actually assaulted me!
Before I paid the fine I also tried to lay charges against
WO Erasmus for assault at the local police station. I was told that I can't lay
any charges against a police officer. This came quite as a surprise as I wasn't
aware that such double standards exists in the law enforcement of this country.
May be it's only in Steynsrus where the police makes the public believe that
the police are above the law? What a shame on our police force!
Clearly WO Erasmus got no respect for other people,
especially for old people like me, and for the way he shouted at me he definitely
got no respect for himself. May be it's time the police officers are reminded
of the Constitution of South Africa with reference to the clause where the
dignity of old people are protected from humiliation.
The Ambassador of the Netherlands
I'll appreciate it if you'll acknowledge receipt of this
document.
Yours truly
Joost Bouwman
Cell: 083 335 5835