Johannesburg: South AfricaThe K police watchdog on Tuesday said it has arrested 13 officers in connection with the custodial death of a man, the first major breakthrough in several cases of alleged cruelty during the COVID lockdown.
The man, who has not been named, was placed in April 2020 along with three others johannesburg Suburban, independent directorate of police investigation for violation of lockdown rules (IPID) said in a statement.
Thereafter, he was allegedly assaulted by police officers and members of a private security firm before being taken to a police station, where he complained of stomach pain.
“An ambulance was called, paramedics declared a civilian dead,” a police watchdog said in a statement, after the murder investigation was opened.
IPID said it had arrested 13 police officers and three private security personnel last week in connection with the incident.
All of them have been released on bail pending a formal indictment in August.
IPID said the bail hearing was the first court appearance of law enforcement officers accused of cruelty during the coronavirus lockdown in the country.
Police violence during the pandemic sparked national outrage and some protests in 2020, with rights groups reporting an increase in the use of deadly force.
About 115 people are reported to have died in custody. Amnesty InternationalWhich welcomed the arrest but questioned why they took so long.
All those victims “deserve justice,” said Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shanila Mohamed Calling for a speedy investigation, said in a statement.
“We will not see the end of these incidents until those responsible are held accountable,” he said.
South Africa imposed one of the strictest confinements in the world during the pandemic, but was the hardest-hit country on the continent, with more than four million infections and 101,935 deaths.
The man, who has not been named, was placed in April 2020 along with three others johannesburg Suburban, independent directorate of police investigation for violation of lockdown rules (IPID) said in a statement.
Thereafter, he was allegedly assaulted by police officers and members of a private security firm before being taken to a police station, where he complained of stomach pain.
“An ambulance was called, paramedics declared a civilian dead,” a police watchdog said in a statement, after the murder investigation was opened.
IPID said it had arrested 13 police officers and three private security personnel last week in connection with the incident.
All of them have been released on bail pending a formal indictment in August.
IPID said the bail hearing was the first court appearance of law enforcement officers accused of cruelty during the coronavirus lockdown in the country.
Police violence during the pandemic sparked national outrage and some protests in 2020, with rights groups reporting an increase in the use of deadly force.
About 115 people are reported to have died in custody. Amnesty InternationalWhich welcomed the arrest but questioned why they took so long.
All those victims “deserve justice,” said Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shanila Mohamed Calling for a speedy investigation, said in a statement.
“We will not see the end of these incidents until those responsible are held accountable,” he said.
South Africa imposed one of the strictest confinements in the world during the pandemic, but was the hardest-hit country on the continent, with more than four million infections and 101,935 deaths.