Police in Lusaka have nabbed a fellow officer, two members of a neighborhood watch group and a reservist in connection with the death of a suspect who was beaten to death at George Police on Saturday.

In a statement, Sunday, Police Spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo revealed that a suspect in a burglary case, Jimmy Sampa, was allegedly beaten up at the police station by the members of the neighborhood watch and the reservist.

“A Police Officer, two members of the neighbourhood watch and one reservist have been detained in Police custody in Lusaka’s Matero Township in connection with the death of a suspect in a Burglary and Theft case. This happened yesterday, 05th January, 2019 at about 07 00 hours at George Police. The suspect has been identified as Jimmy Sampa who was earlier picked for allegedly stealing a Radio and two speakers. The suspect was allegedly beaten by the reservist and two members of the neighbourhood watch at the police post from one of the rooms after they picked him from the cell where he was detained. He became unconscious and was rushed to George Clinic where he was pronounced dead,” Katongo stated.

“Those detained are Constable Habatebele who was in charge of the shift, Reserve Constable Phiri and two neighbourhood watch officers identified as Joseph Banda aged 49 and Saulosi Phiri aged 35 all of George Compound police post. The body of the deceased is in UTH mortuary awaiting postmortem. Docket of case opened and investigations have continued.”

Katongo stated that the police officer had also been arrested because he was supposed to supervise the reservist and members of the neighborhood watch.

“The police officer has also been detained because he was the one who had the key to the cells and he was also in charge of the reservist as well as the members of the neighbourhood watch.The officer was about two meters from where the suspect was being interrogated. Reservists and neighbourhood watch members are supposed to work under the supervision of a police officer and not to be left to work alone,” stated Katongo.