A Free State farmer is the prime suspect in an assault investigation involving a 14-year-old boy who sustained injuries after jumping out of a moving bakkie.
Is the Free State farmer guilty of assault?
As reported by SABC News, the mother of the teen approach Petrusburg police on Saturday 13 November 2021, hours after her son was taken to hospital for treatment of wounds sustained in an encounter with the unidentified farmer.
The mother filed an assault-GBH charge against the farmer, claiming that the teen was targeted by the man and not only was he held against his will, but the farmer allegedly placed the boy in grave danger.
According to police spokesperson Fikiswa Matoti, a team of investigators has been assigned the case.
“The police in Petrusburg are investigating an assault-GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm) case after a mother of a 14-year-old boy went to open a case against a farmer in Petrusburg on Saturday 13 November 2021. It is alleged that a group of boys went hunting illegally in a certain farm in Petrusburg. The owner of the farm then chased them and managed to apprehend the 14-year-old boy.
“According to the police, the farmer then put the boy at the back of his bakkie with the intention of taking him to the police station. As they were driving on the way, the boy jumped off from the bakkie and the farmer stopped,” Matoti revealed.
From what we understand, no arrests have been made and investigations are still ongoing.