Spitzkoppe man in hospital after alleged police beating
Family demands accountability
Erongo police are investigating the alleged brutal assault of a 44-year-old Spitzkoppe man by officers from the Usakos station.
The man remains hospitalised in Windhoek after undergoing major abdominal surgery, following what he and witnesses claim was a violent assault by members of the Namibian police.
Melvin Areseb is recovering at Katutura State Hospital after surgeons discovered internal bleeding and had to open his stomach. His partner, Nicolette Hoabes, confirmed that doctors found his abdomen filled with blood and that he now has stitches across his abdomen.
The incident reportedly occurred nearly three weeks ago following a domestic dispute in Spitzkoppe. Police from the Usakos station were called but, according to witnesses, only arrived at about 03:00, when the situation had already calmed.
According to Hoabes, officers removed Areseb from his home, handcuffed him and loaded him into a police vehicle. He was allegedly beaten outside the house and again during transport, with reports claiming the vehicle even stopped en route to Usakos so officers could continue the assault.
Areseb was reportedly released the following day and dropped on the roadside near Usakos, from where he had to hitchhike. He was picked up by family but subsequently taken to the Usakos State Hospital and then transferred to Windhoek for emergency surgery. According to Hoabes, he remains in severe pain and is unable to use the toilet naturally.
Probe underway
Senior police inspector Judith Sjomengola of the Erongo police confirmed that the case is under investigation.
“We are busy investigating,” she said in response to a list of allegations and questions by the family and media.
Areseb’s family have reached out to the media, with several questions they say the police must respond to: why he was taken into custody, what charges he faced, why he was not provided immediate medical attention, and why he was released on the roadside. They also criticised the alleged absence of an incident report, the lack of a formal statement from the victim, and the failure to collect witness testimonies, despite several people being willing to speak.
According to Hoabes, the family dispute was "not serious", claiming that Areseb had not had any issues with the law previously.
The man remains hospitalised in Windhoek after undergoing major abdominal surgery, following what he and witnesses claim was a violent assault by members of the Namibian police.
Melvin Areseb is recovering at Katutura State Hospital after surgeons discovered internal bleeding and had to open his stomach. His partner, Nicolette Hoabes, confirmed that doctors found his abdomen filled with blood and that he now has stitches across his abdomen.
The incident reportedly occurred nearly three weeks ago following a domestic dispute in Spitzkoppe. Police from the Usakos station were called but, according to witnesses, only arrived at about 03:00, when the situation had already calmed.
According to Hoabes, officers removed Areseb from his home, handcuffed him and loaded him into a police vehicle. He was allegedly beaten outside the house and again during transport, with reports claiming the vehicle even stopped en route to Usakos so officers could continue the assault.
Areseb was reportedly released the following day and dropped on the roadside near Usakos, from where he had to hitchhike. He was picked up by family but subsequently taken to the Usakos State Hospital and then transferred to Windhoek for emergency surgery. According to Hoabes, he remains in severe pain and is unable to use the toilet naturally.
Probe underway
Senior police inspector Judith Sjomengola of the Erongo police confirmed that the case is under investigation.
“We are busy investigating,” she said in response to a list of allegations and questions by the family and media.
Areseb’s family have reached out to the media, with several questions they say the police must respond to: why he was taken into custody, what charges he faced, why he was not provided immediate medical attention, and why he was released on the roadside. They also criticised the alleged absence of an incident report, the lack of a formal statement from the victim, and the failure to collect witness testimonies, despite several people being willing to speak.
According to Hoabes, the family dispute was "not serious", claiming that Areseb had not had any issues with the law previously.
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