Ngombane accused 'tortured'
2005-07-25 19:00
Bloemfontein - The Bloemfontein District Court heard on Monday that police tortured one of the accused held for the murder of Free State official Noby Ngombane.
Willem Edeling, defence attorney for Bongani Mlambo, the brother-in-law of Ngombane, told the court that his legal team were unable to get hold of him at the Park Road police station over the weekend where he was held until his next court appearance on Wednesday.
'Assaulted and tortured at length'
"His (Mlambo's) lawyer has informed me that he was allegedly assaulted and tortured at length by the investigation team," said Edeling.
Mlambo, 28, and a niece of Ngombane's wife, Sephumle Booi, 23, were arrested on Thursday last week in connection with the murder.
They appeared in court the same day on charges of murder and being an accessory after the fact respectively and the matter was postponed to Wednesday.
On Monday, Ngombane's wife, Nokwanda, and two of her sisters, Vuyokasi Mlambo, 26, and Thanthiswa Mlambo, 33, also appeared in the same court in connection with the murder.
The matter against the three women was postponed to Wednesday when all five accused will appear for bail applications.
Request for 'immediate' examination
Edeling asked the court that Bongani Mlambo be sent immediately for a medical examination by "independent police officers" where a senior pathologist was on standby.
"He is very afraid because he was promised more (torture) at the hands of the investigating team," said Edeling, who is representing all five accused.
Edeling submitted that Mlambo was apparently bound to a chair and among other things shocked after he had been handed to an Eastern Cape investigating team on Friday.
"He was booked back to the police station on Sunday at 11:00," Edeling said.
"The defence has received no assistance from police that he be taken to a doctor for the recording of his injuries."
Edeling also asked for an order that the state hand over the police docket to the defence.
- SAPA