Mapeke was beaten by mob, says Minister

LEMMY Mapeke was descended upon by an instant justice mob for allegedly committing 10 cases of burglary and theft before being handed over to Macha police post, Parliament heard yesterday

Acting Home Affairs Minister, Given Lubinda said Mr Mapeke was on November 16th, 2017 re-leased from Choma Correctional Facility after serving a five-year sentence for burglary, housebreaking and theft.

Mr. Lubinda said after the suspect was released he allegedly committed 10 cases of burglary, house breaking and theft which led to his arrest by a mob which handed him over to Macha Police Post on March 10th,2018.

“Government is aware that Mr Lemmy Mapeke, 28, died on Friday while in Police custody at Macha Mission Hospital in Mbabala Constituency,’ he said.

The Minister was responding to a question for oral answer by Mbabala MP Ephraim Belemu who wanted to know whether Government was aware that a Mr Lemmy Mapeke died in police custody at Macha Police Post in Mbabala Constituency.

Mr. Lubinda, who is Justice Minister said during the period of detention, Mr Mapeke was lead-ing police officers to various places where he had either sold or hidden the stolen properties.

He said during that time various household goods were recovered in the process.

He said investigations were still ongoing as a number of people where still lodging com-plaints for burglary and theft occasioned by Mr Mapeke.

Mr. Lubinda said on March 16 2018, Mr Mapeke fell ill and was taken to Macha mission Hospital where he died.

He said a post-mortem was conducted which showed that Mr Mapeke died of internal bleeding as a result of a ruptured spleen caused by