By Septimus Senessie in Kono.
The chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Kono District (KDHRC) has called on the government to bring to justice seven Operational Support Division policemen for allegedly beating one Tamba Lebbie to coma in October.
Rev. Sahr Christian Fayah described as "brutal and reckless" the attack which is reported to have taken place in the presence of school children in their compound.
He said the seven OSD officers had still not been brought to justice while his two children had been out of school for several weeks because of “constant provocation and intimidation” by their colleague pupils in the school. He warned that the police must not be allowed to "take the law into their own hands".
The man of God told Politico that police at Tankoro initially denied Lebbie a medical form. He said the police Local Unit Commander, Superintendent Momoh N’gevao told him that the alleged victim of police brutality had a case to answer to for "assaulting a police officer.” He said it after the intervention of the Human Rights Committee and the media which forced the police to issue out the medical form.
The LUC told Politico that the matter was still under investigation and that "anyone found wanting will be brought to book". He said he had told the alleged victim to make a statement to the police but that he had "not shown up".
He assured that they would "stand by the civilian populace in the district in protecting life and property" which he said they were under oath to do.
But the Rev. Fayah would have none of it, calling for the establishment of an "independent body empowered by the constitution to be investigating some of the reckless deeds of the police against civilians".
He renewed his condemnation of the police for "using live ammunition and excessive force” in December last year, during a strike action by mine workers against the management of OCTEA Diamond Group.
(C) Politico 10/12/13
