By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –
THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) is investigating reports that an inmate at Lusaka Central Prison was assaulted by his colleagues for allegedly producing an offensive video.
James Hankuba is believed to have been beaten by his fellow inmates on Saturday last week resulting in the rupturing of his bladder and other bodily injuries.
HRC spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya condemned the incident and said that the commission had instituted investigations into the matter.
Mr Muleya said in a statement yesterday that as part of the ongoing investigations, the commission had visited the victim at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where he had been been admitted.
The commission had also spoken to some prison authorities and directed them to examine any security and administrative lapses that might have resulted into the severe beating and injury of an inmate under their custody.
“The preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was assaulted by known fellow inmates within the prison premises,” Mr Muleya said.
Mr Hankuba informed the commission that he was assaulted by a group of inmates who were aggrieved by the contents of the video he produced while in prison.
He said the commission was, however, happy with the positive steps that had been taken by the authorities at the prison to report the matter to the police before promptly taking the victim for treatment.
Mr Muleya called for the punishment of the culprits as a deterrent and to ensure that justice was done.