'Illegal biker' dies in cells
2006-10-08 23:00
Dennilton - When police collected Hansie Mohlala from his home, little did his family realise that it would be the last time they would see him alive.
Mohlala was taken without explanation from his home in Kgobokoane village to Dennilton police station in Mpumalanga at 22:00 on Wednesday.
They learned later he had been accused of riding a neighbour's motorbike without permission.
"At first, we were not told what he was going to be charged with. The police simply took him and left," said his younger brother, Selvy Mohlala, on Friday.
"In the morning, my mother went to see him at the police station. She was denied access, and was told she would only see him in court later in the day."
He said their mother did not go to court. About midday, police arrived at her house and told her that her son was dead.
"They told her he had been assaulted by other prisoners in the holding cells," he said.
Seven suspects identified
Neighbours accompanied the family to see the body on Friday morning, and found that the wounds on his body were suspicious.
The police claim not to have heard any sounds of a struggle in the cells.
"His body was discovered during a routine check after 01:00," said superintendent Malcolm Mokomene of Highveld area police.
"We do not have the exact cause of death as yet. But, seven suspects have been identified in the holding cells as the possible culprits."
When asked why Mohlala's mother was not told immediately that he was dead when she went to the police station on Thursday morning, Mokomene said: "We have procedures to follow in such cases.
Duty of a senior officer
He said they could not tell a person such news without their chaplain and social workers being present.
He said a senior officer had to break such news to the family.
"In this case, I would think nobody of high-enough rank was available, so whoever told the lady lies was only buying time."
He said the results of the post-mortem should be available on Monday.