It is alleged that the torture victim was arbitrarily made to pay one cow and three goats as fines for stealing a mobile phone worth 35,000 shillings, which prompted him to run to court seeking justice.
The
Market-Street cell LCI Chairperson in Apac Municipality who is accused of torturing a man suspected of stealing a mobile phone theft has been remanded to Atopi
Prison.
On
Wednesday, police arrested Sam Omara Omego, for allegedly beating to comma, one
Paul Ojok, a resident of Agulu
division who
was taken to his office over a stolen phone. The Village Boss reportedly
sentenced the suspect to 100 strokes of the cane, inflicting serious injuries on him.
It
is alleged that the torture victim was made to pay one cow and three goats
as fines for stealing a mobile phone worth 35,000 shillings, this prompted him
to run to court seeking justice.
According
to police, Omara was summoned several times to record statement but declined
and hence was forcefully arrested after he ran away, which made police fire two bullets and then apply "reasonable force" to cool him down.
On
Friday Omara, appeared before Apac Chief Magistrate
Court, presided over by Apac Grade One Magistrate Catherine Kuluwo on charges of torture and causing grievous
harms contrary to Articles 24 and 44(a) of the Constitution.
He
denied the charges and was remanded to Atopi Prison Farm until May 6th.
He
applied for bail but his bail application was denied after the state prosecutor
Paul Wapondi, also the Apac Resident State
Attorney told
the court that investigations into the matter are still on-going.
The
incident comes barely a month, when a local clan leaders tortured to death one
of their subjects, whom they accused of infidelity.
The
deceased Jaspher Odic, a resident of Atana parish in Apac Sub County, also a
member of Adok-oyengo-woo clan was tortured until he died, a matter pending before
court. A number of leaders have come out to condemn torture and violations of
human rights.
Bonny
Olwe, the Apac Sub County Vice chairman condemned torture of suspects, asking
the human rights activists to step up vigilance in sensitizing the population against
the vice.
Luo
Byte:
//Cue
in: “Pe obedo gi …
Cue
out: … pe obungu abunga.”//
Jurababel
Opio Okori, the Adok clan leader equally condemned torture; he attributes the incident such as the above to weakness in leadership.
Solomon Okabo
Freelancer