Rape suspect, Policeman in scuffle at Outapi

Rape suspect, Policeman in scuffle at Outapi

A SUSPECT awaiting trial in a rape case claims he was beaten up by the Outapi Police on October 12 last year.

Gabriel Ananias wrote a letter to The Namibian in which he alleged that he was assaulted after asking for unsalted food. He was then taken to Outapi Hospital for treatment and was treated by a certain Dr Everest Nkire, he said.Ananias said he wanted to open a case against the Police officers who assaulted him, but one of them had allegedly threatened to kill him if he did so.”I was afraid to be killed and have remained quiet,” Ananias told The Namibian.”Because of the beating, I have lost my health at the moment.I always have a severe headache, chest and rib pain, while I am always vomiting blood when I am coughing.I was not a hospital man [a sickly man] but now I am visiting the hospital several times because of these beatings,” Ananias said.When approached by The Namibian, Dr Nkire confirmed that he had treated Ananias.”Yes, I remember, I have treated such a person, who was brought to the hospital by the Police.He was beaten, had haematoma and was bleeding, and I treated him,” Dr Nkire said.Omusati Police Commander Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa said he was unaware of the incident and promised to investigate the charges.The Omusati Police liaison officer, Sergeant Linekela Shikongo, confirmed that Ananias had been beaten by a Police officer.According to Shikongo, Ananias and some fellow inmates broke the door of their cell after complaining about the food.Ananias is alleged to have attacked a Policeman who tried to put him back into the cell and nearly bit the officer’s finger off, Shikongo said.The officer then hit Ananias, and both were taken to hospital for treatment.Shikongo further told The Namibian that Ananias and the Policeman had both laid charges of assault against each other, which are being investigated by the Police.”I just want to say that the Policeman used minimum force against Ananias, only to protect himself from Ananias’s attack, because Ananias attacked the Policeman first, and the Policeman acted in self-defence,” Shikongo said.He was then taken to Outapi Hospital for treatment and was treated by a certain Dr Everest Nkire, he said.Ananias said he wanted to open a case against the Police officers who assaulted him, but one of them had allegedly threatened to kill him if he did so.”I was afraid to be killed and have remained quiet,” Ananias told The Namibian.”Because of the beating, I have lost my health at the moment.I always have a severe headache, chest and rib pain, while I am always vomiting blood when I am coughing.I was not a hospital man [a sickly man] but now I am visiting the hospital several times because of these beatings,” Ananias said.When approached by The Namibian, Dr Nkire confirmed that he had treated Ananias.”Yes, I remember, I have treated such a person, who was brought to the hospital by the Police.He was beaten, had haematoma and was bleeding, and I treated him,” Dr Nkire said.Omusati Police Commander Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa said he was unaware of the incident and promised to investigate the charges.The Omusati Police liaison officer, Sergeant Linekela Shikongo, confirmed that Ananias had been beaten by a Police officer.According to Shikongo, Ananias and some fellow inmates broke the door of their cell after complaining about the food.Ananias is alleged to have attacked a Policeman who tried to put him back into the cell and nearly bit the officer’s finger off, Shikongo said.The officer then hit Ananias, and both were taken to hospital for treatment.Shikongo further told The Namibian that Ananias and the Policeman had both laid charges of assault against each other, which are being investigated by the Police.”I just want to say that the Policeman used minimum force against Ananias, only to protect himself from Ananias’s attack, because Ananias attacked the Policeman first, and the Policeman acted in self-defence,” Shikongo said.

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