Inmates claim officers assaulted them

A PRISONER who was allegedly assaulted by correctional service officers tried to commit suicide over the weekend, while another is unable to walk properly after claims that he was also beaten in the cells.

Both assaults allegedly happened within a matter of days at the Windhoek Correctional Facility last week.

One of the inmates’ parents has approached the Office of the Ombudsman demanding an investigation into their son’s assault.

Bernardus Gariseb (36) allegedly tried to commit suicide over the weekend by drinking battery acid after correctional officers had reportedly assaulted him with an iron object.

A nurse at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital where Gariseb is admitted confirmed that he attempted to end his life after he was assaulted in the cells.

The nurse did not indicate who assaulted him, although Gariseb told that some correctional service officers assaulted him.

“He drank battery acid and took a few pills. He is now undergoing counselling while we examine his body for injuries,” the nurse, who declined to be named, said.

Although Gariseb did not have visible injuries on his body, he limped when he was escorted to see a social worker at the Gender-Based Violence Investigation Unit near the hospital.

Gariseb’s sister, Renathe Karises, told yesterday that her brother admitted that he wanted to end his life because he could not stand being locked up in a dark cell.

The dark cell is a solitary confinement place at the prison which is allegedly dreaded by many inmates as its conditions are inhumane and suffocating.

“Prison authorities told my brother that they would keep him in solitary confinement for 30 days, instead of the lawful four days,” said Karises.

She said her family wants answers on her brother’s assault, adding that Gariseb was offered the battery acid by another inmate.

A guard from the prison, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied that they had assaulted Gariseb.

“He is the one who tried to end his own life by drinking something. He is lying. He was not assaulted,” said the guard.

Another inmate, 36-year-old David Charles Eichab, was allegedly also assaulted by correctional service officers at the same facility a few days before Gariseb’s assault.

His elderly parents, Hendrik and Katrina Driemond, yesterday said prison officials had refused to let them see their son last Saturday during visiting hours.

“When we insisted on seeing him, I was informed by one of his cellmates that he was assaulted by the guards, and now has to walk with crutches because his legs are injured,” Hendrik claimed. The Driemonds, who have not seen their son since the incident, went to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday.

“We want answers. We want the Ombudsman to investigate the assault claims that are going on at the prison,” said Hendrik.

He believes the prison officials do not want him to see his son because they are hiding the injuries they inflicted upon him.

“We are his biological parents, and we demand to see him. They cannot keep us from seeing our son; that is a violation of our rights. If they have nothing to hide, why do they not want us to see him?” he asked.

The Driemonds also showed a medical report stating that their son sustained a permanent head injury a few years ago and would require regular medical check-ups, but claim the prison authorities do not take him for the check-ups.

An official at the Office of the Ombudsman, who declined to be named, confirmed that the elderly couple complained to their office about the treatment of their son at the prison this week.

“After receiving their complaint, I went to the prison on Tuesday to enquire and spoke to their son, but he did not look injured at all.

“I was informed that there was a confrontation because he did not want to cooperate with officers who wanted to move him to another cell,” he explained. Asked how often their office receives complaints about prison authorities abusing inmates, he stated that it was not unusual for correctional officers and wardens to have altercations with inmates from time to time.

“It happens. Correctional officers are allowed to use minimal force on inmates who are misbehaving. Although sometimes they can abuse their authority, some inmates misbehave and do not respect prison authorities,” he added.

The spokesperson of the Windhoek Correctional Facility, Eveline January, said she would only comment if an email was sent to her, although she had not replied to it by the time of going to print.