By SIMON MUNTEMBA
LUSAKA High Court fracas victim, Lucas Tompwe, who was apprehended almost two weeks ago, is still locked up at Emmasdale Police Station without being charged.
The Human Rights Commission has remained mute over the matter, raising concerns from family members who have described the detention as an injustice.
Mr Tompwe’s brother, Charles told the Daily Nation that his brother who was assaulted by UPND cadres at Lusaka’s High Court on October 8, was still in custody.
“We don’t know what is happening now because they have kept him in the cells for almost two weeks now without any charge.
“We engaged lawyers who wrote to the Inspector General of Police for his unlawful detention but nothing has been done. Let them take him to court if he has a case,” he said.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said the matter was still under investigation.
He said Mr Tompwe was under investigation for an alleged murder case involving a UPND member.
Asked why the suspect was not yet charged or taken to court, Mr Hamoonga said, “the matter is still under investigation,”
He said he would not give details for fear of jeopardising investigations.
Efforts to get a comment from the Human Rights Commission proved futile by press time.
Mr Tompwe is one of PF Mandevu Constituency Member of Parliament, Christopher Shakafusha’s witnesses in a petition case.
He was assaulted at Lusaka High Court by irate UPND cadres on October 8.
He was rushed to Chipata Level One Hospital before being apprehended.
The fracas happened immediately after the adjournment of the Mandevu Parliamentary petition hearing for continued trial, in a case where losing UPND candidate Aaron Mulope has asked the Lusaka High Court to nullify the election of Mr Shakafuswa as Mandevu MP citing violence and corruption.
Ends.
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