Civitas is appalled by the arbitrary arrest and brutalization of a man by police officers in Bamenda, in violation of the Criminal Procedure Code of Law No. 2005/007 of 27 July 2005 and international human rights standards.
On 25 August 2
011, at
about 8AM, police officers from the Second Police District in Bamenda arbitrarily arrested a
man, identified by Civitas as Sama, on accusation of theft. The man, who makes a living collecting metal from dump sites for recycling, was accused of stealing a car kick-starter. He was picked up by police and roughed up in Nacast, Upper Bayelle.
Sama was arrested without a warrant of arrest or summons – as defined in Section 18 and Section 40(1), respectively, of the the Criminal Procedure Code.
He was brutally slapped in the face and sustained an injury in the right eye.
Man arrested, slapped in the eye and detained at the Second Police District, Bamenda. Photo: © Civitas
Section 30(4) of the Criminal Code clearly states that “no bodily or psychological harm shall be caused to the person arrested.” This Section of the Criminal Code, designed to protect accused persons from police brutality and abuse, was violated.
Police searched Sama’s workshop without a search warrant and did not find the alleged stolen item. He was taken to the Second Police District and detained.
Civitas condemns arbitary arrests and police brutality in all its forms and urges the police to respect the rule of law and the rights of accused persons.
Cameroon is party to the UN Convention Against Torture and has an obligation to protect all persons from torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment.
