Hate-placard suspect claims Police officers beat him up

A 28-year old man on Friday laid a complaint with the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), claiming that he was arrested, beaten and released by the Namibian Police, without any charges being brought against him.

Joseph Kandjii (28) alleged the Police tried to force him to confess to being one of two men who displayed a placard reading ‘Kill all whites’ at a recent Herero demonstration. A Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Christopher Munyika, confirmed yesterday that a suspect had been arrested in Rocky Crest in Windhoek between 00h00 and 01h00 on Friday in connection with the placard.On Friday, Police Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said Kandjii had the “full right to go to our Complaints Division and lay charges”.The suspect was released by early Friday afternoon, but was expected to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today, Munyika said.Kandjii said that at around midnight on Thursday armed Police officers knocked on his door and told him that they were looking for him in connection with the placard.On their way to the Police station, the officers started beating him around the chest, and locked him up overnight, he claimed.He was told that he would appear in court on Friday.At around 10h00, he said, he was interrogated by an officer (name provided).”I informed the officer that I was at the demo, but that I was (a passenger) in a Toyota car.He said I was arrogant, walked over to me and beat me with an open hand,” Kandjii claimed at a press conference held by the NSHR late on Friday.After being interrogated, he said, he was taken to the Police Serious Crime Unit, where his picture was taken.Back at the Police station, the pictures were compared with those taken by a journalist at the march, and it was found that they didn’t match.Kandjii says the officer came back and told him to go home because there was no case against him.”Being a human rights organisation, we view this as a very serious matter,” said NSHR spokesperson Dorkas Phillemon.”The Namibian Constitution as supreme law should be respected by all,” she said, referring to Article 8, which prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Kandjii said he would take action against the Police.The first suspect in the case was arrested more than a week ago.* In a separate incident, the NSHR said it had received a complaint on Saturday of a Namibian Police officer allegedly shooting and seriously wounding an Omaruru resident.Charlton Wasserfall was allegedly shot three times at close range and critically wounded.The incident occurred at around 21h30 outside Club Shinedima.NamPol’s Munyika said yesterday that he was unaware of the allegations but would investigate them.A Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Christopher Munyika, confirmed yesterday that a suspect had been arrested in Rocky Crest in Windhoek between 00h00 and 01h00 on Friday in connection with the placard.On Friday, Police Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said Kandjii had the “full right to go to our Complaints Division and lay charges”.The suspect was released by early Friday afternoon, but was expected to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today, Munyika said.Kandjii said that at around midnight on Thursday armed Police officers knocked on his door and told him that they were looking for him in connection with the placard.On their way to the Police station, the officers started beating him around the chest, and locked him up overnight, he claimed.He was told that he would appear in court on Friday.At around 10h00, he said, he was interrogated by an officer (name provided). “I informed the officer that I was at the demo, but that I was (a passenger) in a Toyota car.He said I was arrogant, walked over to me and beat me with an open hand,” Kandjii claimed at a press conference held by the NSHR late on Friday.After being interrogated, he said, he was taken to the Police Serious Crime Unit, where his picture was taken.Back at the Police station, the pictures were compared with those taken by a journalist at the march, and it was found that they didn’t match.Kandjii says the officer came back and told him to go home because there was no case against him.”Being a human rights organisation, we view this as a very serious matter,” said NSHR spokesperson Dorkas Phillemon.”The Namibian Constitution as supreme law should be respected by all,” she said, referring to Article 8, which prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Kandjii said he would take action against the Police.The first suspect in the case was arrested more than a week ago.* In a separate incident, the NSHR said it had received a complaint on Saturday of a Namibian Police officer allegedly shooting and seriously wounding an Omaruru resident.Charlton Wasserfall was allegedly shot three times at close range and critically wounded.The incident occurred at around 21h30 outside Club Shinedima.NamPol’s Munyika said yesterday that he was unaware of the allegations but would investigate them.