Cops beat up suspects in custody, to be investigated

A Plumtree magistrate has ordered an investigation into assault claims that two murder suspects have made against police officers stationed at Madlambuzi in Bulilima District.
The court heard that Madlambuzi Police Station officers were beating up suspects in custody. 
Linos Nkomo (19) and Meluleki Dube (18) of Gala area, who appeared in court facing allegations of attempted murder, told the court they were assaulted by police officers at Madlambuzi Police Station while in their custody.
"Before we proceed with this matter I would like to call for an investigation into these allegations that have been made against police officers in Madlambuzi.
"If they are true then they will be faced with a great offence because police officers do not have a right to assault a suspect no matter how big an offence they are suspected to have committed," said Plumtree magistrate, Mr Livard Philimoni.
Charges being laid against Nkomo and Dube are that they assaulted Tendai Moyo (19) and stabbed him once with an okapi knife on his chest.
Prosecuting, Mr Paul Mpofu said the two accused persons picked a fight with the complainant on 24 January resulting in the assault.
"On 24 January at about 6pm the complainant was on his way home when he met the two accused persons. They blocked his path and accused him of spreading rumours that they were criminals.
"The complainant denied the allegations and the accused persons started beating him up and he ran away from them. Nkomo pursued the complainant and upon catching up with him he retrieved an okapi knife and stabbed the complainant on the left side of his chest," said Mr Mpofu.
"The complainant sustained a lung perforation wound as a result of the attack. The matter was reported leading to the arrest of the two accused persons."
The accused persons were remanded in custody to 10 February.