OSHAKATI MERJA IILEKA
A man who was assaulted by the Ohangwena police is preparing to sue the State after the officers involved in the attack were found guilty by a magistrate's court.
Simon Hedimbi, 34, three years ago became a victim of police brutality in a case of mistaken identity while police officers were rushing to make arrests in a robbery and assault case at Oshali.
According to Hedimbi, police officers knocked on his door on May 29, 2010 and demanded that he hand over the gun they said he had used to rob a shop and threaten a bartender. The police said they had followed his footprints from the crime scene.
When he informed the police that he did not own a firearm and that it must be a case of mistaken identity, they allegedly handcuffed him and beat him up to force him to confess.
They kicked me and hit me all over my body with their pistols. They even fractured my jaw and until today it is not completely healed, Hedimbi claimed.
The police eventually put him in their van and took him back to the crime scene, where the bartender immediately informed the police that they had the wrong man. The woman said Hedimbi had been at the shop the previous day, but that he had nothing to do with the robbery.
I then asked the police to take me to the hospital, but they refused. They wouldn't even take me back to my house where they found me because they said they were eagerly trying to make an arrest, so they left me there, said Hedimbi.
Hedimbi immediately went to the Ongha police station, where he was referred to the Okakwa police station and eventually taken to the Engela District Hospital.
After receiving treatment, Hedimbi laid a charge of assault with the Ohangwena police and the matter was heard in the Eenhana Magistrate's Court.
Two police officers, Constable Frans Kahavila and Sergeant Ndume Simon, paid admission-of-guilt fines of N$1 000 each on June 17, 2011.
Hedimbi, a seaman at Lüderitz, says he is not satisfied with the outcome and is getting legal advice on pursuing a civil case against the State.
I've been travelling back and forth from Lüderitz to Eenhana to attend the court case and I want to be compensated for that. I also want the State to compensate me for the injuries I sustained during the attack.
I have never done anything criminal in my life and the police treated me like a criminal before gathering facts and evidence. An example should be made of abusive police officers, said Hedimbi.
Ohangwena Police Commissioner Tylves Kampolo said he could not comment on the incident because it occurred during his predecessor's era.
His second-in-command, Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas, was also not aware of the case.