Commissioner of Police to explain disappearence of suspect

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday August 12, 2011 00:00

Sebele confirmed to Mmegi yesterday that he has tabled a motion calling for the Commissioner of Police to avail an internal police report implicating Molepolole police in the possible death of Olebile Kefhitilwe, an armed robbery suspect.

'I have tabled the motion at the Molepolole Sub Authority,' said Sebele adding, 'It's quite embarrassing and it raises concern that the police can continue torturing people as alleged to the extent that suspects simply go missing.'

Sebele says allegations that Kefhitilwe was tortured before his disappearance must be taken seriously and called on police brutality in the name of interrogation to be brought to an end.

'If allegations against the police that they brutally tortured Kefhitilwe hold, then this will be a clear case of abuse and the police seem to fail to understand the elementary of law that even persons they are holding for the purposes of investigations are presumed to be innocent until proven otherwise,' Sebele pointed out.

He said he intends to further present the matter at the main Kweneng District Council full council meeting at a later stage.

'The Commissioner of Police should be able to state what has happened as we want to see the police continuing to enjoy the respect and trust of the public. It's not that I am trying to suggest that suspects should be treated with kid gloves but abusing them is also a criminal offence,' he said.

Kefhitilwe mysteriously disappeared from police custody about 11 months ago and his worried family is now suspecting foul play and accusing the Molepolole police of having knowledge of what really transpired.

The family has also revealed that Kefhitilwe's former cellmates at Molepolole Police Station are alleging that he was brutally tortured by police just before his disappearance.