Mr Byron Shepherd Hove usually speaks with a soft voice but when he speaks about the alleged police assault inside the cells at Vosman Police Station his voice rises.
Hove said that he was arrested for being an illegal immigrant and for an assault case at the station on July 28. He explained that he was not found guilty on being an illegal immigrant but served 30 days for the assault charges. He was arrested together with his two brothers on the same charges.
Hove indicated that his problems started just before he was released after serving his sentence. He said police came to the cells during the night and beat them up.
“A group of police officers came to our cells and beat us for no apparent reasons. I was assaulted the most, because they say I talked a lot and the reason being that I questioned the beatings,” said Hove.
Mr Byron Shepherd Hove who alleges that he was assaulted by the police inside the cells at Vosman Police Station
He also added that they were kept at the cells for two days without water as a form of punishment. Hove said he is under treatment and alleged that he was even refused permission to go and collect his medication at a clinic.
“The police used a pick handle and hold our arms to our backs and assaulted us. They took turns to beat us, I was vomiting blood and I could not eat as well. My arm was swelling as well as my one finger due to the beatings,” added Hove.
Hove further said he tried to open a case at the station but could not after seeing some of the police who were allegedly involved in the beatings. Even officials from the Department of Home Affairs were contacted according to Hove but said they could not help him.
Hove was helped by Captain Klaas Maloka, Vosman Police Station communication officer to open a case at the station and promised that the case would be investigated and sent to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
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