Inquiry on man who fell 10 storeys

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32902, 28 April 1972, Page 9

Inquiry on man who fell 10 storeys

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) . JOHANNESBURG, April 26.

Security police interrogated an Indian schoolteacher for 31 hours over a period of three days, including the day when he fell 10 floors to his death at police headquarters in Johannesburg, an inquest was told today. A police captain said in evidence that the teacher, Ahmed Timol, aged 30, looked shocked when a Mr X” came into the interrogation room shortly before Mr Timol’s fatal fall on October 27 last. The presiding Magistrate agreed to a request that in the interests of national security the identity of Mr X” should not be disclosed. Captain Johannes Gloy said that Mr Timol’s eyes became “wild and staring when he was told three men mentioned in seized documents had been identified. This was the first time during the interrogation that Mr Timol had looked shocked, upset or anxious, the captain said. Captain Gloy said that he and a Captain Van Niekerk did the questioning. T t took place on the first day from seven in the morning until seven at night, on the next day from eight in

the morning until eight at night, and three days later 8 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. Replying to Mr Israel Maisels, who appeared for Timol’s family, the witness said he and Captain Van Niekerk were questioning Mr Timol when “Mr X” came into the room. The detoined man had his back to the door and did not look round, but heard the voice from behind and looked shocked, the officer said. The two security men then left the office, and shortly afterwards a police sergeant told him that Mr Timol had jumped from a window. Later, the captain said, a Sergeant Rodriguez told him that Mr Timol had said he wanted to go to the lavatory, C retended to go to the door, ut turned suddenly, opened the window and jumped out. During testimony at an earlier nearing on Monday, evidence was given that Mr Timol and another detainee had been arrested after pamphlets published by banned organisations were found in the boot of their car. Documents were introduced which were said to have been written by Mr Timol during the three days before his death. These outlined training in sending coded messages, and the structure of the South African Communist Party, and described how he and others had distributed pamphlets printed in Britain. The hearing is continuing.