Police in Swaziland (eSwatini) allegedly assaulted a
government assistant accountant during a fraud investigation by beating him
with fists and putting a plastic bag over his head.
A doctor’s report from Nhlangano Health Centre on Simiso
Zwane, 31, said, ‘Assaulted by Police Officers all over the body, using fists
and kicks today at 1pm. Also being suffocated with plastic bag, now feeling
chest pains, difficulty in breathing, dizziness and impaired hearing. Blood
came out from ears.’
The Swati
Newsweek website reported Zwane, an assistant accountant based at Hlutsi revenue
office said, ‘I was tortured for more than five hours at Nhlangano Police
Station. I was kicked and punched by five police officers including a female
officer. I was suffocated by these police officers with a plastic bag.’
Police were investigating the disappearance of E90,000
cash.
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| Simiso Zwane’s medical record: Source: Swati Newsweek |
There have been numerous reports across Swaziland
about police torturing suspects during investigations. In February 2020 the Times
of eSwatini reported police in Siteki allegedly threw a 20-year-old man
into a fire after he allegedly assaulted a cousin. They were also reported to
have put a plastic bag over his head and assaulted him with fists.
Magistrates in Swaziland have a number of times
criticised police for beating up suspects. In
January 2019, Magistrate Sindisile Zwane at Mbabane said she had noticed a
number of suspects came before her in court with bruises and swollen faces and
other parts of their bodies.
The Swazi
Observer reported at the time the numbers were increasing significantly.
The newspaper added she said police should be able to question people without
beating them up.
In March 2018 Principal
Magistrate at Manzini David Khumalo told police they must not beat suspects
after a man appeared in court with injuries all over his body.
In June 2016 a United Nations review
panel looking into human rights in Swaziland was told in a joint
report by four organisations, ‘In Mbabane [the Swazi capital], police tortured
a 15-year-old boy after his mother had reported him for stealing E85.00 (US$6).
The boy alleges that he was beaten with a slasher (metal blade tool for cutting
grass) and knobkerrie [club] for five hours. While enduring the pain, he
alleges that he was made to count the strokes aloud for the police to hear.
Instead of being charged, the boy was physically assaulted and made to sit in a
chair for thirty minutes before he was sent back home.’
The report
was submitted to the United Human Rights Council Working Group
on the Universal Periodic Review of Swaziland by the Swaziland Multi-Media
Community Network, Swaziland Concerned Church Leaders, Swaziland Coalition of
Concerned Civic Organisations and Constituent Assembly – Swaziland.
See also
Man
‘thrown into fire’ in latest case of alleged police torture in Swaziland
Police
must not beat suspects: court
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/03/police-must-not-beat-suspects-court.html
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