This comes more than five months after Juma Igiranieza, a barber, was assaulted at his workplace, Perfect Touch Boutique and Salon, in Mowbray on 7 November.on 10 November showing several officers, one in plain clothes, assaulting Igiranieza. In the footage, at least two officers participate directly in the assault, while other police officers appear unconcerned. Igiranieza is pummelled, struck repeatedly with a wooden device, and smothered with plastic.
Magistrate Goolam Bawa said he was seldom shocked at the types of charges brought to his courtroom, but he was shocked by these charges against officers of the law. They are charged with unlawfully and intentionally committing torture by ‘assaulting the complainant Igiranieza with fists, a baton, pepper spray and a plastic bag in order to obtain information from him.’ according to the charge sheet. ‘It is alleged that the accused all acted within the scope of common purpose.’
The accused did not plead and were released on unopposed bail of R2 000 each. The bail conditions state that they refrain from contacting or communicating with Igiranieza and refrain from going to Station Road in Mowbray where the incident took place.