Stop brutality, CCJP cautions cops
THE Catholic Commission for Justice and peace (CCJP) hDs FDXtioned SoOiFe offiFeUs against brutality and inhuman treatment of detainees.
This follows the death of a year old man identified as Douglas Ngosa who was on April 30 found dead in a cell at a police station in Mufulira.
The preliminary postmortem indicated that the deceased was beaten, but police have maintained that he committed suicide.
Mr Ngosa was on April 29 dragged to a police station near Ronald Ross hospital in Mufulira on suspicion of stealing a phone by an unidentified bar owner in the area.
It is suspected that the bar owner connived with the police to beat up Mr. Ngosa who was found dead in his cell.
Meanwhile CCJP para legal officer )rancis 0vula said the postmortem revealed that Mr Ngosa was beaten as was evidenced by the blood clots in the brain.
He said it was obvious that this was a case of police brutality as the man who took Mr Ngosa to the police had since disappeared and his bar was closed.
Mr Mvula said it was clear that the police were hiding something as the information they were offering was unreasonable and did not add up.
But Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed to the 'aily 1ation that Mr Ngosa committed suicide and was found hanging in a cell.
“We are not sure whether maybe he banged his body against the wall before finally hanging himself, but indeed he was alone in a police cell and was found dead,“she said.
Ms Katanga said only a preliminary postmortem was carried out and there was still chance for further procedural action to ascertain whether there was foul play in the death.
She said if there was any suspicions of foul play, investigations would be instituted in the matter.