Limbukeni
Senior Member
- Feb 27, 2009
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Eyewitnesses to two police killings in Arusha now transferred
2009-03-10 11:18:52
By Rose Mwalongo
Pump attendants of a petrol station in Arusha municipality who were on duty on the day the police allegedly shot dead Shadrack Motika and Edward Mtui have been transferred to an unknown location, it has been learnt.
The findings are part of an inquiry by Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) monitors in Arusha.
The attendants are Rukia Mohamed and two others identified only by one name of Jabir and Baby, while another is said to have been fired after he refused to heed his employer\'s directive.
It has also been revealed that the police officers who took the bodies of the slain men to Mount Meru Regional Hospital refused to disclose their names to hospital authorities for reasons yet to be known.
``Our clients today went to Mount Meru Hospital mortuary with a view to being furnished with the particulars of the persons who delivered the bodies to the mortuary.
The mortuary attendants told them that those who delivered the bodies were policemen who preferred not to disclose their names, reads part of the report dated March 4 sent to Principal State Attorney in Arusha.
On March 1, this year, Shadrack Motika (22) and Edward Mtui are said to have gone to Mt. Meru petrol station in the municipality to refuel their Escudo car when they met the ordeal.
The two had reportedly just refuelled at the station when a misunderstanding erupted between them and pump attendant Rukia Mohamed over some change, which finally led to Rukia calling police on patrol.
On arrival the police were reportedly told by Rukia that the two motorists had robbed her, upon which the cops shot them dead on the spot.
The seven page report further reveals that Shadrack Motika had requested a ride home from Joseph Mtui.
According to eyewitnesses, the police shot Shadrack after he had inquired why they (police) had shot Edward.
An LHRC monitor managed to talk to three eyewitnesses who, for safety reasons, did not want to give their second names.
One eyewitness, Mansuri, said he was drinking at a nearby bar called Big Sister at around 11 pm when he heard gunshots.
``I came out only to find Shadrack Motika come out of the car while pleading, `I am not a thief`. I also saw Edward Mtui with his head lying on the driver`s seat and he was already dead,`` said Mansuri.
He said the police searched the car but could not find any weapons but the only thing they came out with was a half bottle of Konyagi.
Another witness identified as Omary said he was watching TV at his shop nearby when he heard gunshots.
``I saw three policemen holding a pistol. I also saw a driver inside the Escudo car with his head lying on the seat and he was already dead. Shadrack Motika, who had been shot before, came out with his hands up saying he was not a bandit. He told the police to call his father Motika but the police did not heed his pleas but instead shot him on the chest and he fell down dead,`` said Omary.
According to Omary, the police officers are alleged to have called their colleagues through radio call.
He said the police who shot the two bought a notebook and a pen before they left the area.
Omary said the police searched the car and found half a bottle of Konyagi and kat, saying, ``The car did not have weapons inside.``
Arusha Regional Commissioner Isidori Shirima formed a team last week to probe into the matter.
This is the second incident implicating the police in extra judicial slaying of civilians in Arusha within a month.
On February 5, this year, police officers are alleged to have stormed into a house belonging to Juma Lissu where they brutally beat him and dragged him to a police station.
The following day his wife went to visit him, only to be told that he was dead.
SOURCE: Guardian
2009-03-10 11:18:52
By Rose Mwalongo
Pump attendants of a petrol station in Arusha municipality who were on duty on the day the police allegedly shot dead Shadrack Motika and Edward Mtui have been transferred to an unknown location, it has been learnt.
The findings are part of an inquiry by Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) monitors in Arusha.
The attendants are Rukia Mohamed and two others identified only by one name of Jabir and Baby, while another is said to have been fired after he refused to heed his employer\'s directive.
It has also been revealed that the police officers who took the bodies of the slain men to Mount Meru Regional Hospital refused to disclose their names to hospital authorities for reasons yet to be known.
``Our clients today went to Mount Meru Hospital mortuary with a view to being furnished with the particulars of the persons who delivered the bodies to the mortuary.
The mortuary attendants told them that those who delivered the bodies were policemen who preferred not to disclose their names, reads part of the report dated March 4 sent to Principal State Attorney in Arusha.
On March 1, this year, Shadrack Motika (22) and Edward Mtui are said to have gone to Mt. Meru petrol station in the municipality to refuel their Escudo car when they met the ordeal.
The two had reportedly just refuelled at the station when a misunderstanding erupted between them and pump attendant Rukia Mohamed over some change, which finally led to Rukia calling police on patrol.
On arrival the police were reportedly told by Rukia that the two motorists had robbed her, upon which the cops shot them dead on the spot.
The seven page report further reveals that Shadrack Motika had requested a ride home from Joseph Mtui.
According to eyewitnesses, the police shot Shadrack after he had inquired why they (police) had shot Edward.
An LHRC monitor managed to talk to three eyewitnesses who, for safety reasons, did not want to give their second names.
One eyewitness, Mansuri, said he was drinking at a nearby bar called Big Sister at around 11 pm when he heard gunshots.
``I came out only to find Shadrack Motika come out of the car while pleading, `I am not a thief`. I also saw Edward Mtui with his head lying on the driver`s seat and he was already dead,`` said Mansuri.
He said the police searched the car but could not find any weapons but the only thing they came out with was a half bottle of Konyagi.
Another witness identified as Omary said he was watching TV at his shop nearby when he heard gunshots.
``I saw three policemen holding a pistol. I also saw a driver inside the Escudo car with his head lying on the seat and he was already dead. Shadrack Motika, who had been shot before, came out with his hands up saying he was not a bandit. He told the police to call his father Motika but the police did not heed his pleas but instead shot him on the chest and he fell down dead,`` said Omary.
According to Omary, the police officers are alleged to have called their colleagues through radio call.
He said the police who shot the two bought a notebook and a pen before they left the area.
Omary said the police searched the car and found half a bottle of Konyagi and kat, saying, ``The car did not have weapons inside.``
Arusha Regional Commissioner Isidori Shirima formed a team last week to probe into the matter.
This is the second incident implicating the police in extra judicial slaying of civilians in Arusha within a month.
On February 5, this year, police officers are alleged to have stormed into a house belonging to Juma Lissu where they brutally beat him and dragged him to a police station.
The following day his wife went to visit him, only to be told that he was dead.
SOURCE: Guardian
