Maravi

Cops tell court how detained woman died

Cops tell court how detained woman died
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Saturday, May 30, 2009 3:31:23 PM

THE Lusaka Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard testimonies from police officers over the circumstances that led to the death of a woman who was detained by another police officer.

During an inquest into the death of Alice Chishimba before magistrate Mwaka Mikalile, sub-inspector John Mutale and constable Glare Mainza told the court how constable Andrew Jemusala brought and detained an unstable and stark naked woman at Chawama Police Station. The incident occurred on the night of July 29, 2007.

Mutale said he was the shift officer on the night when he received a report that there was an armed police officer beating a naked woman behind the police station.

He said he sent some officers to verify the report from a concerned citizen and shortly, Jemusala walked in with a naked and unstable woman who was having difficulties walking.

Mutale said Jemusala charged the unknown woman with theft and threw her in a cell.

He said when throwing the woman in the cell, Jemusala had said that she had stolen his phone and that anybody who would release her would dance to his tune.

Mutale said around 10.00 hours, he heard that the woman brought in by Jemusala had died at the University Teaching Hospital and he came to know her as Alice Chishimba.

Jemusala, who was present during the inquest, cross-examined Mutale, who maintained that Jemusala was the one who placed Chishimba in the cell, where she was the only occupant.

Mainza told the inquest that he was instructed, together with other police officers, to go and verify the report that a police officer was beating a woman behind the station.

“I reported on duty at Chawama Police Station in the night shift, which runs from 17.30 hours to 07.30 hours the following day,” Mainza said.

He said the other police officers were constable Msimuko, constable Mbozi, constable Jemusala and reserve constable Chembe.

Mainza said at around 05.00 hours, Msimuko, Mbozi and himself were asked to follow up a report that Mutale had just received.

“He told us that there was a police officer beating a woman,” he said. “When we were told to go, we were not told the name but when we went to the scene we found constable Jemusala holding one hand of the woman, who was lying down naked.”

Mainza said Jemusala’s other hand was holding a short baton and when they asked him what was happening, he told them that she had stolen his phone.

He said Jemusala refused to be assisted in taking the woman to the police station and they left him. Mainza said he later learnt that the woman had died when he was off-duty. Hearing continues on June 16.

Labels: ALICE CHISHIMBA, ANDREW JEMUSALA, POLICE BRUTALITY

posted by MrK @ 2:34 PM