Cops assault cabbie, says relative

A FATHER-of-two from Togoba village in Hagen central, Western Highlands province, is nursing a broken jaw and swollen head after he was beaten up by a group of policemen at 5-Mile, NCD, at about lunchtime yesterday.
Taxi driver Stanley Mawa was in a cab with his elder brother Steven Kamanga and three other relatives when they were stopped along the 5-Mile road by policemen in an unmarked 10-seater troop carrier.
“We had left our house at Gordon and was taking two of our relatives, who had just arrived from home, on a tour of the city when we were stopped at 5-Mile,” Kamanga said.
He said the driver of the police vehicle got out of the 10-seater and ordered Mawa out.
“While Mawa was still getting out of the car, he was punched in the face and booted.
“We were shocked but could not do anything as they were policemen.
“When Mawa fell down on the road, he was booted and kicked all over his body. Other policemen in the car also jumped out and joined in the assault on Mawa.”
He said they were then told to follow the police vehicle to the 6-Mile police station where they were told to pay K900 or be locked up.
“Without even explaining the charges to us, they threw Mawa into the police lock-up.
“The policemen then left us at 6-Mile and drove away.”
Kamanga said a policeman at the station later released them, saying he was not sure what charges were to be laid against them.
He said they then took Mawa to the Gerehu clinic where he underwent medical checks and was given painkillers and antibiotics to take until Thursday when he will return for a review.
Besides a broken jaw and swollen head, Mawa also lost three of his teeth and was also hit with a stone on his knee.
Kamanga said Mawa was also relieved of K260 and his driver’s licence.