The High Court of South Africa awarded a Zimbabwean national R100 000 (about US$6 000) in damages after finding his 21-day detention unlawful.
This occurred despite his initially lawful arrest and prosecution in connection with a 2014 robbery case.
Zimbabwean Lawrence Moyo, a supervisor for Danga Security, was arrested in September 2014 following a robbery at Protech Khuthele's business premises, where electronic goods were stolen.
The court heard that police investigators linked Moyo to the robbery after two suspects, Jeffrey Ndlovu and Lunga Sibanda, implicated him in the crime.
Evidence before the court showed that Moyo communicated with Sibanda on the night of the robbery and disclosed security details about the premises, including the number of panic buttons installed at the site.
In a judgment cited online as (14220/2016) [2026] ZAGPJHC 395 (16 April 2026), delivered by Gauteng High Court Division Judge Petrus Gcinumuzi Malindi, the court ruled partly in favour of Moyo, who had sued the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority for unlawful arrest, unlawful detention and malicious prosecution.
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Judge Malindi ruled that the police had sufficient grounds to suspect Moyo was involved in the robbery.
"The police entertained a reasonable suspicion that the plaintiff had committed a crime," the judge held.
The court noted that stolen property belonging to a Protech employee, Moiane Laurenco José, was later recovered at Moyo's residence, further strengthening police suspicion.
Moyo denied involvement and insisted José had left the items with him for safekeeping before José travelled to Mozambique.
However, the court found aspects of Moyo's explanation inconsistent and improbable.
Although Moyo argued malicious prosecution, the court rejected that claim, finding that prosecutors acted on evidence in the docket and believed there was a prima facie case against him.
The prosecution later reconsidered the matter after determining that the only remaining evidence implicating Moyo was a co-accused's statement, which South African criminal law principles prohibit using against him.
On March 6, 2015, prosecutor Tikalisi Jacob Masangwanyi recommended withdrawal of charges due to a lack of prospects for successful prosecution.
Despite that decision, Moyo remained in custody until March 27, 2015. Judge Malindi found that this 21-day delay rendered the detention unlawful for that specific period.
"Therefore, the following order is made. The claim for unlawful arrest and detention is dismissed except in respect of Claim B for unlawful detention, for the period of 6 to 27 March 2015, the first and second defendants shall, jointly and severally, the one paying, the other to be absolved, pay to the plaintiff damages in the sum of R100 000," Judge Malindi ruled.
"Interest shall accrue on the sum aforesaid at the rate of 10,5% per annum from 1 February 2023 to the date of final payment. The first and second defendants shall, jointly and severally, the one paying, the other to be absolved, pay the costs of suit, including costs of counsel on scale B."