Police officers arrested over death in cell
Malawi Police officers suspected of abusing and eventually brutally killing a detainee in a police station Edison Msiska, 30, of Chabisika village, Traditional Authority Chikulamayembe in Rumphi district, have been arrested.
Nyasa Times has learnt that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers who have been arrested are Constable George Kamphe, Inspector Getrude Munkhondia, Constable Bertha Mthandi, Constable Mpakeni and Constable Nsoloma.
Criminal Investigation Department officers arrested Edson, 30; on 25 January at Mzuzu Depot after he was found in possession of goods the police believed were stolen in the city. He was arrested instead of his brother Ulemu Msiska, whom relatives confirmed is a habitual criminal.
He died at Mzuzu Central Hospital where he was referred to with serious injuries apparently after being beaten by police officers.
Other suspects who shared the cell with Edson and spoke to Nyasa Times claimed the police severely beat the deceased.
An autopsy revealed a case of multiple bruises, fractures and strangulation, according to Charles Dzamalala, a respected Malawian Pathologist.
“We had a case of multiple bruises, fractures and strangulation. But let me emphasise the fact that the bruises were of different ages. Some were fresh and others old,” Dzamalala said.
The report, a copy of which Nyasa Times has, says: “There were also multiple haemorrhages (severe blood loss) in the scalp indicating point of impact. Internally the haemorrhages were quite severe in the left and right chest cavities. Put together the blood that took out measured 450 ml.
“There were some bleeding on the heart and we also noted that the aorta (big artery to the heart) the wall of it also had some haemorrhages and that indicates that there was some pressure which was enough to transmitted to the heart.”
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Isaac Maluwa had assured that Police would make thorough investigations.
Edison mother Esther Lupafya, a Nurse at Ekwendeni Hospital, berated the Police for lying that her son was a victim of mob justice.
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