Eight officers charged with assaulting detainees
Eight officers of the Special Reserve Force are charged with assaulting awaiting-trial detainees after a cell search at the Tsumeb police station.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Eight officers of the Special Reserve Force are facing charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after they allegedly beat up awaiting-trial prisoners at the Tsumeb police station.
The officers appeared before the Tsumeb magistrate’s court yesterday.
The police chief, Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, said only seven of the officers were at court as one was apparently sick.
The matter came to light in a video circulated on social media, which showed the extent of injuries that two detainees at the Tsumeb police station sustained, allegedly at the hands of the police.
Ndeitunga said the police became aware of the video and a fact-finding team was sent to Tsumeb.
The two prisoners were awaiting trial on drug, assault and murder charges.
Contraband
Preliminary findings indicate that on 17 May there was a report of dagga having been smuggled into a holding cell.
Ndeitunga said members of the Special Reserve Force were called in to conduct a cell search, which found dagga and a cellphone.
He said later that day, the detainees overpowered the police officers who delivered their evening meal.
One of the detainees ran from the cell and recovered a plastic bag containing a bottle of whiskey from the dustbin.
According to Ndeitunga, the officers then took the detainees outside and beat them up.
“This is total misconduct and against the conduct of the police,” the police chief said.
Ndeitunga said an investigation of the incident was continuing.
The men were taken to hospital for medical attention.
It is also alleged that the cellphone with which the video was filmed had been smuggled into the cell.
In the video, the detainees claim that the officers had returned drunk from a club and assaulted them without provocation.
WINDHOEK
Eight officers of the Special Reserve Force are facing charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after they allegedly beat up awaiting-trial prisoners at the Tsumeb police station.
The officers appeared before the Tsumeb magistrate’s court yesterday.
The police chief, Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, said only seven of the officers were at court as one was apparently sick.
The matter came to light in a video circulated on social media, which showed the extent of injuries that two detainees at the Tsumeb police station sustained, allegedly at the hands of the police.
Ndeitunga said the police became aware of the video and a fact-finding team was sent to Tsumeb.
The two prisoners were awaiting trial on drug, assault and murder charges.
Contraband
Preliminary findings indicate that on 17 May there was a report of dagga having been smuggled into a holding cell.
Ndeitunga said members of the Special Reserve Force were called in to conduct a cell search, which found dagga and a cellphone.
He said later that day, the detainees overpowered the police officers who delivered their evening meal.
One of the detainees ran from the cell and recovered a plastic bag containing a bottle of whiskey from the dustbin.
According to Ndeitunga, the officers then took the detainees outside and beat them up.
“This is total misconduct and against the conduct of the police,” the police chief said.
Ndeitunga said an investigation of the incident was continuing.
The men were taken to hospital for medical attention.
It is also alleged that the cellphone with which the video was filmed had been smuggled into the cell.
In the video, the detainees claim that the officers had returned drunk from a club and assaulted them without provocation.
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