Liberati died on Sunday morning at MNH where he had been brought by law enforcers from Sitaki Shari police station at Ukonga area for treatment
According to reports, on the day that Mr Liberati Matembu was arrested a man who was riding a motorcycle engaged him in a physical confrontation. A few mnutes later the police arrived and found the two fighting and Matembu who was at the time holding a machete was arrested.
Dar es Salaam. Drama ensued at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) yesterday as one family refused to take the body of their relative who died in controversial circumstances while under police custody.
Mr Liberati Matembu died on Sunday morning at MNH where he had been brought by law enforcers from Sitaki Shari police station at Ukonga area for treatment after he was allegedly beaten heavily by the officers who were holding him, according to the family.
Contacted for comment yesterday, the regional police commander for Ilala, Ms Mary Nzuki, said they had just received the information from this paper and that they were trying to resolve how best they could go about it.
“Thank you for the information; we didn’t know about it but we are now in a meeting to see how we can solve it. First we are going to Amana to gather more information regarding the matter,” said Ms Nzuki.
She said they would issue a statement today on what transpired for the man to lose his life while in the hands of the police.
The family claimed the deceased was detained at Sitaki Shari police station and was denied bail for eight days.
Thereafter, he was reported to be in critical condition and was sent to Amana Hospital and then to Muhimbili National Hospital where he was pronounced dead on Sunday morning. Through their lawyer Baligiye Benedict they told The Citizen yesterday that their relative was arrested by the police last week on August 22 while in good health and were shocked at the news of his death. They called for an explanation from the police as to what happened to their relative.
“We were able to speak to him when he was in custody and he was in good health; we wonder what happened to him that led to his admission to the hospital,” said Mr Benedict.
The family expressed anger at the move by the police to identify their late relative as a robber who had been beaten severely by angry citizens when they arrived at Amana.
According to the lead medical doctor at Amana, Dr Andrew Method, the records at the hospital showed that the man was hit with a blunt object and that he was sent to MNH because he needed urgent treatment.
How it started
It is alleged that on May 23 a man walked into Meku Pub, owned by Mr Matembu, which is located along Nyerere Road at Karakata for a drink, thereafter he kept frequenting the place and later engaged in an altercation with the deceased.
Mr Matembu was slightly injured in the fight and went to the police for help.
After two months since the incident happened the man was nowhere to be seen, but on Friday last week he emerged again at the bar at around 11pm when the late Matembu and his wife were about to close for the night.
