Police in firing line again

A MAN arrested in Windhoek last week after being found in possession of a stolen jukebox has laid criminal charges against the arresting officer.

The family of 21-year-old Hafeni Josef Amalwa say a beating he allegedly received at the hands of the officer “are reminiscent of injuries inflicted on Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai”. The family last week reported the incident to the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR), while Amalwa himself laid criminal charges against the officer he claims is responsible for his swollen face and eye.The officer reportedly approached the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (VTC) student last Tuesday afternoon, after an investigation into a stolen jukebox led Police to him.Amalwa was still behind bars yesterday, so his uncle Abraham Shivolo spoke to The Namibian.The young man was reportedly approached by a couple of peers from Windhoek’s Donkerhoek neighbourhood who wanted to sell him a jukebox, according to Shivolo.”The guy told him that it was his father’s and that he needed to sell it.So Hafeni bought the jukebox from him,” Shivolo claimed.When Police caught the man who allegedly sold the jukebox to his nephew, Shivolo says he led them to Amalwa.The officer then allegedly “tortured” Amalwa, according to his uncle.”This guy who stole the jukebox is still out, but they arrested Hafeni and beat him up.He did nothing but tell them the truth,” Shivolo said.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu yesterday confirmed that a criminal case of assault had been laid against the officer, adding that the law would be allowed to take its course.This latest allegation of Police brutality came a week after Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga took issue with his commanding officers over the large number of Police brutality charges levelled against his force.The family last week reported the incident to the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR), while Amalwa himself laid criminal charges against the officer he claims is responsible for his swollen face and eye.The officer reportedly approached the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (VTC) student last Tuesday afternoon, after an investigation into a stolen jukebox led Police to him.Amalwa was still behind bars yesterday, so his uncle Abraham Shivolo spoke to The Namibian.The young man was reportedly approached by a couple of peers from Windhoek’s Donkerhoek neighbourhood who wanted to sell him a jukebox, according to Shivolo.”The guy told him that it was his father’s and that he needed to sell it.So Hafeni bought the jukebox from him,” Shivolo claimed.When Police caught the man who allegedly sold the jukebox to his nephew, Shivolo says he led them to Amalwa.The officer then allegedly “tortured” Amalwa, according to his uncle.”This guy who stole the jukebox is still out, but they arrested Hafeni and beat him up.He did nothing but tell them the truth,” Shivolo said.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu yesterday confirmed that a criminal case of assault had been laid against the officer, adding that the law would be allowed to take its course.This latest allegation of Police brutality came a week after Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga took issue with his commanding officers over the large number of Police brutality charges levelled against his force.