By NATION REPORTER
Human Rights Commissioner Laura Miti says the extended detention of suspects like former PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri without trial is cruel.
Ms. Miti who is a human rights defender said this situation of suspects spending long period of time in Police Cells must end.
She hopes Ms. Phiri will get her day in court soon and then, now that the public knows about this injustice, that those without powerful names and supporters will also be released or tried expeditiously.”
There is a wide discussion on the length of time, former PF Deputy SG, Mumbi Phiri has been in detention without trial commencing,” Ms. Miti said.”
With many powerful voices focused on Ms. Phiri, I thought I would use her situation to draw attention to the fact that our police cells hold hundreds of individuals in similar situation,” she said.
Ms. Miti said because they are poor and from an underprivileged background, years without charge or with cases dragging on in court do not even raise a ripple in the nation.
She said Magistrates and judges heartlessly adjourn cases with no care about how long a matter has lasted.”
Police officers, who know that no one should be in their cells for more than 48 hrs on a bondable offence, are not worried either at hosting suspects for months on end,” Ms. Miti said.
