THE investigating officer in the disappearance of Joshlin Smith, Detective Captain Wesley Lombard has denied torturing co-accused Steveno van Rhyn.
As the trial of “Steffie” van Rhyn, chommie Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and Racquel “Kelly” Smith, Joshlin’s mother, continued yesterday in the Western Cape High Court in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, Van Rhyn’s lawyer Nobahle Mkabayi grilled Lomdard.
Mkabayi claimed that her client alleged Lombard instructed others to assault him. She emphasised that it was Lombard who issued the orders for Steffie to be roughed up.
Previously, in his plea explanation, Steffie told the court he was assaulted and handcuffed by men he got a lift from. He later discovered that they were cops, and he was taken to Jacobsbaai.
He was told he was going to be killed and was continuously asked where Joshlin was.
He was later taken to the Seaboard offices where he was further tortured by being hung in the air, suffocated with a plastic bag, beaten, and had his testicles pinched.
Van Rhyn also claimed at one point, a firearm was placed in his mouth.
While most of the statements made by Mkabayi were not questions, Lombard said he had no comment.
Mkabayi submitted: “It is my instructions that you were up and down not doing interviews [at the Seaboard offices] you were up and down instructing people to beat him [van Rhyn].
She added: “My client said he couldn't walk properly because of how his testes were pinched,” she submitted.”
However, Lombard shot back, stating this was not true and he never gave anyone instructions to assault any of the accused.
“I have no comment. The only time I saw him walking was from the boardroom to the office. I didn’t notice him walking in pain. If I had noticed, I would have asked him what was happening”.
He further told the court that injuries would have been documented on the J88.
A J88 document is a police document filled in by a doctor.
Lombard said: “As your client indicated the injuries would then be on his forearm. It would be difficult for a doctor not to see it. So, his story that the doctor did not see is not plausible
Van Rhyn also took the opportunity to put his hand up twice during proceedings to give instructions.
The trial continues.
