KWEKWE — Police in Kwekwe have allegedly denied an accused person access to his lawyers on the grounds that the lawyer would “confuse” the suspect and complicate their investigations.
Report by Blessed Mhlanga
The lawyer, Caroline Mugabe, has accused police of being unprofessional.
Mugabe’s client, Godknows Mashame, was detained for up to 62 hours following his arrest on March 19 for alleged illegal possession of firearms.
He, however, briefly appeared at the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Courts on Friday last week, but the matter could not be prosecuted after the State indicated it would proceed by way of summons.
In a letter addressed to the Officer Commanding Kwekwe District, Chief Superintendent Maritha Nyati, Mugabe rapped the police for behaving in an “unprofessional” manner.
“We have noted, with great regret, the unprofessional and unethical manner in which officers in the Mines and Minerals section are handling their investigations in a matter concerning our client,” Mugabe said.
“Detective Constable Phiri advised our Miss Mugabe that it would be impossible for her to see our client because she would confuse him. It is clear that the named police officer and others are clearly exceeding their authority, office and powers.
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“We are certain that it is common knowledge that every person is entitled to legal representation, (but) your officers have become overzealous, underhand, unethical and terribly unprofessional” she said.
But, Kwekwe police spokesperson Detective Assistant Inspector Lawrence Machingura dismissed Mugabe’s assertions.
“We don’t assault suspects. The job of the police is clearly to investigate arrests and bring suspects before the courts and not to assault them.
“Nobody has been assaulted or denied access to their lawyers,” he said.
