Police release seven suspects illegally detained by NFA

SEVEN suspects were released from the Daru Police Station cells earlier this month due to overcrowding, a senior police officer says.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Border Command, Peter Philip said the suspects, including a female, all from the old Mawatta village, had been released because they had been illegally detained.
“They have been held in the cell blocks since Dec 21 without being charged by the National Fisheries Authority officers which is now amounting to illegal detention,” he said.
The suspects are: Epe Sepe, Daidu Sepe, Dube Sepa, Againa Gagora, Julianus Mahuze, Thomas Ogi and Jasintha Gagoro.
Philip said with the ongoing issue of overcrowding in the cell blocks at Daru Police Station, keeping the seven suspects would have put their health at risk.
“With the current cells overcrowding, it is posing a health risk so my provincial police commanders are left with no choice but to have the seven released back to their village,” he said.
Philip said upon his advice, the fisheries officers in Daru have released three outboard motors and all the belongings of the suspects.
Philip added that illegal fishing and illegal crossing of the international border had become a common issue along the border, but, the offenders had been lucky as the Daru’s police cells could not cater for more than 15 detainees at a time.
“There is an increase in illegal activities in Western and this should stop as the police cell in Daru cannot cater for more than 15 people and as a result justice does not prevail on many offenders.”