Paynesville – Police at the Zone 8 police depot in Paynesville have refused to arrest a criminal, demanding that complainants provide medical treatment first.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
On Tuesday, security personnel at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex arrested an alleged criminal, identified only as Jerry, when he broke into Kadi’s Restaurant within the stadium compound, which also hosts the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The security team immediately handed him over to the nearby police station, but to the astonishment of Kadi’s Restaurant management and stadium security, the police refused to arrest him, insisting that the complainants take him away and treat his bruises.
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told FrontPage Africa that the police turned away the alleged burglar out of concern that he might fall ill in detention and die. The officer explained that on many occasions, people arrested for theft are badly beaten by mobs, and if they die in police custody, the police are often blamed by family members. As a precaution, the police have decided not to arrest any alleged criminals who appear to have been tortured or beaten before being brought to the station.
But responding to FPA’s inquiry, the police commander said he was not aware of the incident as he is currently working from the Central Police headquarters. He promised to get back to FPA after making some inquiries to gather the facts.
The management of Kadi’s Restaurant stated that they did not torture Jerry and that he was already bruised when caught. Jerry, speaking to FPA from the Sports Complex, said he was beaten during a previous “operation” and by the management and stadium security. He explained that he and his friends had earlier broken into Kadi’s Restaurant and stolen valuable items, including a musical set, amplifier, and other valuables. His friends then beat him up and refused to share the stolen items with him. Desperate and left with nothing, he decided to go back to the restaurant alone to “try his luck” and get something. It was during this attempt that he was caught. He said he entered through one of the stadium entrances.
Jerry pleaded with the stadium security to set him free so he could help retrieve the stolen items quickly.
The management of Kadi’s Restaurant expressed disappointment in the police, terming their actions as unprofessional. They stated that they had not carried out any form of violence against the alleged burglar and had expected the police to arrest him and either retrieve the stolen items or forward him to court.
Meanwhile, FrontPageAfrica has learned that security at the SKD Sports Complex and the Ministry of Youth and Sports is limited. At night, most entrances are not manned. FPA gathered that the contract of the private security firm that had provided security for the Ministry over the past years was abruptly terminated, leaving a major void. The head of security at the Ministry of Youth and Sports did not respond to FPA inquiry. He said he cannot talk to journalists.
