(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) South African court on Tuesday found eight former police officers guilty of murdering a Mozambican taxi driver who they dragged behind a police van in early 2013.
"The accused are convicted of murder," Judge Bert Bam said in his ruling at Pretoria's Gauteng North High Court.
Two years ago, 27-year-old Mido Macia, a Mozambican taxi driver, was handcuffed by police and dragged behind a police van € for over 200 meters € in Daveyton near Johannesburg.
Macia had reportedly resisted arrest after committing a traffic office.
A bystander recorded the incident and posted it on YouTube, sparking widespread public outrage across the country.
Macia was later found dead in a holding cell in the Devyton police station.
In their testimony, the policemen had claimed they had accidently handcuffed Macia to the van, not knowing the driver was about to speed off.
The policemen involved were all discharged from the police force in the wake of the incident.
"The accused are remanded in custody until Tuesday, 22 September for sentencing," Judge Bam ruled on Tuesday.
Organizations that advocate for migrants' rights, for their part, welcomed the ruling.
"Migrants are treated as less than human by some officials. We hope this [verdict] will send a strong message," Marc Gabafou, chairman of the African Diaspora Forum, told Anadolu Agency.
Amir Sheikh of the Somali Community Board, meanwhile, voiced hope that the conviction would serve to reduce cases of police brutality against migrants in South Africa.
"This ruling will send a message to bullying police officers that they aren't above the law," he told Anadolu Agency.
South African police officers have long been accused of brutalizing migrants and committing extortion.
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