Father claims police assaulted sons over mistaken identity

A father in Mangochi claims that his two sons were assaulted by police early on Saturday morning in a case of mistaken identity as they returned from a drinking spree.

But Mangochi Police spokesperson Rodrick Maida on Sunday said he has facts on the identities of those arrested. He also alleged that one of the men was on police ‘wanted list’ after he escaped from police custody on rape charges.

In an interview on Sunday, the father, William Tayub, said he received a call about the arrest of Maxwell and Humphrey Tayub on Saturday and he travelled to Mangochi to get details.

Said Tayub: “I learnt that the boys had been drinking at a bottle store in Mangochi when some police officers came and directed that the joint be closed. On their way home, my sons noted some officers stalking them until they attempted to arrest Humphrey.

“Maxwell came in to help his brother who was at the time being beaten severely. Police handcuffed Humphrey and continued to beat him as both of them were taken into custody. I arrived at 6 am at the police station and saw the critical condition Humphrey was in. I was, however, denied the opportunity to take him to hospital until after 11 am where he was given just painkillers.”

Tayub further alleged that Humphrey lost a tooth in the fracas, was in severe pain and unable to feed. He claimed that the boys identified two of the police officers who assaulted them.

Maida, on the other hand, claimed that police arrested Maxwell, 28, of Kalonga Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi and William, 30, of the same particulars.

He alleged that William is a fugitive who escaped jail and police acted on a tip off that he was spotted at the said bottle store when they moved in. 

Said Maida: “Maxwell tried to prevent police from getting to his elder brother and he too was arrested. He has since been charged with obstructing a police officer whilst on duty whereas William had been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after he bit off the ear of one of the officers and resisting arrest”.

But the father claimed that the person the police are looking for in relation to the rape charge is currently in South Africa where he escaped to about three years ago. He insisted those currently in custody are not William but Humphrey and Maxwell.