Cops ‘can’t help’ after man dies in custody

THE Police have declined to pay for the funeral of a man who died in custody on January 5.

The family of Josef Kandjimba (49), who was being held on a rape charge, claim that he died because the Police did not take him for a medical check-up. Raymond Ndala, cousin of Kandjimba, told The Namibian that the medical records indicated that he was due for a check-up on December 30 but the Police at the Windhoek Police Station allegedly refused to take him to the doctor.”We want to find out why the Police did not take him for a follow-up [at the doctors]? Was it to kill him? When he died, they just called us to collect the body without even providing us with his health passport,” Ndala claimed.The family demanded that the Police cover the funeral costs since Kandjimba was healthy when he was arrested on March 3 last year.He had been held in custody since then as he was refused bail.Police spokesman Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said it was not the Police’s policy to assist families of accused persons who died in custody.”The Police normally do not do that unless we fail to trace the family.If we cannot trace the family the State will take over the burial,” he said.Amulungu said the family should file their concerns about the alleged maltreatment of Kandjimba with the Police Complaints and Discipline Division.Kandjimba was working as a messenger for a local bank when he was arrested on a charge of rape.He was buried on Saturday.Raymond Ndala, cousin of Kandjimba, told The Namibian that the medical records indicated that he was due for a check-up on December 30 but the Police at the Windhoek Police Station allegedly refused to take him to the doctor. “We want to find out why the Police did not take him for a follow-up [at the doctors]? Was it to kill him? When he died, they just called us to collect the body without even providing us with his health passport,” Ndala claimed. The family demanded that the Police cover the funeral costs since Kandjimba was healthy when he was arrested on March 3 last year. He had been held in custody since then as he was refused bail. Police spokesman Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said it was not the Police’s policy to assist families of accused persons who died in custody. “The Police normally do not do that unless we fail to trace the family. If we cannot trace the family the State will take over the burial,” he said. Amulungu said the family should file their concerns about the alleged maltreatment of Kandjimba with the Police Complaints and Discipline Division. Kandjimba was working as a messenger for a local bank when he was arrested on a charge of rape. He was buried on Saturday.