Traffic rank at Suddie station abusing his power

Jan 10, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
My hire car H.A.8307 was not involved in an accident and I did not commit any offence whatsoever, when a traffic corporal attached to the Suddie station ordered me to drive to the station with passengers inside, whilst the vehicle was stationary in the Suddie car park.
At the time the rank gave no reason for his action but on reaching the station he told me that I was under arrest and instructed the sentry to pass me through the charge sheet for obstruction and put me in the lock-up. It was only then I knew what the offence was.
The corporal seems to be power drunk and had definitely abused his privilege much to my detriment. His arrogance will further damage the already tarnished reputation of the force. Around 5:30pm on December, 2016 from the day’s incessant heavy rainfall, I had to park my car in a “slantish” position to prevent passengers having to walk in the water in the many pot holes to get into my vehicle.
All of a sudden, this corporal drove up and said to me “Driver, you must take your car to the station “I then enquired for what reason and what the offence was that I had committed, that required my going to the station. He responded “I don’t want to hear that, me go teach you something”. At the time four passengers were in the car when I told him “if you feel me commit any offence give me a ticket” but he insisted that I drive the car to the station.
I even pointed out to him that I would “drop off” the passengers at the nearby Onderneeming Sand Pit area and then come to the station but this did not find favour with him. As I was about to turn around, he stopped the car and stood in front of it while ordering me to reverse on the busy public road with the passengers still inside and go to the station which I did and on reaching there all he said to me that I was under arrest.
While sitting on a bench in the enquires office, the corporal instructed the sentry officer to pass me through the charge sheet for obstruction and put me in the lock-ups but this move was deemed to be wrong by the station sergeant who advised against doing so, as such an offence did not warrant incarceration. The corporal ignored the advice from the sergeant in a disciplined service, by openly stating that he was instructed by the divisional traffic inspector not to put me on bail and to have me incarcerated.
The sentry officer had already indicated to me to take off my boots and surrender my belongings to go in the lock-ups when he made contact with the sergeant at his home with there being a change and I was allowed to continue sitting on the bench. After waiting on the bench for some two hours the corporal stated that a rank will have to come from Anna Regina station to do a breathalyzer test, but as it turned out to be, he did so with the test showing “zero”. The corporal had the kit at his disposal all the time but he was just out to pressure me – an abuse of power – after my hard day’s work. The long wait was very distressing to endure and it was most unjustified to spend such a long time before being released on my own bail.
Gildharry Singh

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