INLSA
Former Sydenham police station commander Glen Nayager, who was trying to clear his name of sexual harassment charges, died of a heart attack during an arbitration hearing at Durbans Elangeni Hotel yesterday.
Controversial former Sydenham police station commander and alleged sex pest Glen Nayager died yesterday from a suspected heart attack during an arbitration hearing. He had been trying to clear his name of sexual harassment charges and to be reinstated to the police force, which he served all his adult life.
His lawyer, Anand Nepaul, confirmed yesterday that Nayager had left the hearing – held at the Elangeni Hotel – during cross-examination of a witness. “Shortly afterwards I was summoned outside,” he said. “I could see something was seriously wrong. He was gasping for breath. He said he had no pain but he could not breathe.”
Nepaul said Nayager had been in hospital under the care of a cardiologist last week and had been discharged on Sunday, which had meant that the arbitration could go ahead.
“A young lady attending a conference next door, who was a paramedic, came to assist and call an ambulance. In the meantime, I got hold of his cardiologist who said he should be taken straight to Westville Hospital.”
The lawyer said the hearing had then continued in Nayager’s absence and he had received a call to say that his client had died while being treated in hospital.
“It is tragic. As things stood, he had been cleared of all criminal charges. The arbitration was to set aside his dismissal in 2010 on an internal disciplinary finding of sexual harassment. It began in November last year and he was keen to get it finalised.”
Nepaul added that all policemen had their enemies.
“Some think you are a hero and others think you are the devil. But I don’t know of anyone who did not think he was a top police officer and a good station commander.”
Regarding the arbitration, he said an executor would be appointed to handle Nayager’s estate. It would be up to that person to decide whether to proceed with the hearing, bearing in mind that if Nayager were reinstated it would have financial implications for his estate.
Excellent
A policeman at the Sydenham police station, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, described Nayager as a good boss.
“Everybody has their good and bad side,” he said. “But he was a hands-on man and good at crime prevention. He worked late hours and would patrol even at 2am.”
Nayager was divorced. He leaves behind two children.
Mansoor Akoo, chairman of the Sydenham community policing forum, said the forum had had a “cordial” working relationship with the Sydenham station, including Nayager. “We are not party to the dispute between Nayager and his employers and cannot reflect on that issue,” he said.
He added that Nayager had done a lot of good work, and residents had had an excellent response from him. “He was always visible… and gave his personal attention to the case,” he said. “If there was a death or hijacking in the area, Nayager would always show his face at the scene.”
