A MOTHER of seven is calling for a proper investigation into the alleged beating of her youngest child Monday last by police in Mahdia, Region Eight. The injured man was identified as Manuel Francis, 21, of Campbelltown, Mahdia.
According to the young man’s mother, Inez Francis, her son was with his 25-year-old cousin Otis Williams on New Year’s night when around 23:00hrs,they ended up in a scuffle with plainclothes policemen after greeting and hugging some ladies at a night club located in the centre of the Mahdia township opposite the cenotaph.
She said that her son ran away from the scuffle, after he realised the men were police officers.
The mother said her nephew and another person were arrested and released on $10,000 station bail Wednesday.
“He run away and doesn’t even want to go to the hospital for a medical because he is scared of the police.”
“The police were not in uniforms and did not identify themselves, they just went there and start chucking them, so they retaliated, because they thought they were bandits,” one eyewitness said.
“They didn’t even produce their IDs or said anything about themselves being police.”
Meanwhile, investigators said that the men were fighting among themselves and when the police intervened, they were beaten. The policemen called for back-up and two persons were arrested.
Charges are expected to be laid after the conclusion of investigations.
Commander of ‘F’ Division, Ravendradat Budhram, when contacted said that an investigation has been launched and if the policemen are found to have been at fault, then the case will be referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
However, if the other parties involved are found culpable, they will be charged.