Man dies after Kempton Park drug arrest
2016-01-23
14:20
Jenni Evans, News24
Johannesburg - A man believed to be a Nigerian national died in a
police van in Kempton Park on Saturday, with police accused of suffocating him,
the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) confirmed.
Spokesperson Robbie Raburabu told News24 that police say the man
was arrested in front of the Arwyp Hospital for possession of drugs.
"As soon as he saw the police coming he swallowed the drugs
and overdosed and died on the scene," said Raburabu.
"It was a sizeable amount of drugs," said Raburabu.
The police officers called for back-up immediately because a crowd
formed around them and accused them of suffocating the man.
Ipid investigators started an investigation as soon as they
arrived in the back of the police van.
Raburabu said that while police held the crowd of angry Nigerians
back, investigators took samples to conduct a post mortem.
This will either confirm or rule out the police's version of
events.
"The body is still in the police van while they conduct the
investigation on the scene," said Raburabu.
One police officer had been singled out by the crowd.
Eight policemen were sentenced to 15 years each last year for
their part in the death of Mozambican, Mido Macia, who was dragged to his death
behind a police van, heightening sensitivity to the rights of arrested people.
Gauteng police referred all queries to Ipid.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/man-dies-after-kempton-park-drug-arrest-20160123
