Two police officers attached to the Kembadu Police Post in Koidu City, Kono District, are under investigation following the death of Tamba Mattia, a commercial motorbike rider, who died in police custody.
Mattia, who hailed from the Ngandorhun area of Koidu, reportedly died after being detained by police despite warnings from his family and eyewitnesses about his deteriorating health.
According to Kai Denis Alpha, a senior family member of the deceased, the circumstances leading to Mattia’s death began when a motorbike owner approached him to take on a riding job.
Due to his poor health, Mattia referred the owner to another rider who agreed to take the job. The fare was split between the rider, Mattia, and the bike owner.
However, when the rider failed to return for several days, the motorbike owner reported the matter to the Kembadu Police Post, leading to Mattia’s arrest.
Alpha noted that several individuals, including Mattia himself, had informed the police about his health condition, urging them not to place him in a cell. Despite these pleas, Mattia was forcefully arrested and detained. The following day, he was found dead in his cell.
An eyewitness confirmed that Mattia appeared visibly ill at the time of his arrest and had warned officers that his condition could worsen if he were placed in a cell. The officers allegedly ignored these concerns, leading to outrage among Mattia’s family and community members.
Following Mattia’s death, his body was transported to Freetown for an autopsy conducted by government pathologist Dr. Simeon Owizz Kamara. The postmortem report revealed multiple blunt force injuries to Mattia’s head and neck, severe physical assault, and manual strangulation. The report also listed extensive skull fractures and spinal cord injuries as contributing factors to his death.
Family members of the deceased expressed mixed emotions regarding the police’s handling of the case. While they praised the initial professionalism displayed by Chief Superintendent of Police Augustine Kamara, the Local Unit Commander at Tankoro Police Divisional Headquarters, they voiced concerns over the lack of a statement from the deceased prior to his death.
Additionally, they questioned why the motorbike owner and the rider involved in the incident were not arrested or interrogated.
The family is now calling for justice and transparency in the investigation, alleging foul play and falsified information by the police.
They are particularly upset over claims made by the motorbike owner and police that Mattia had approached the owner for the job, contradicting their account of events.
Komba Sourie, Information and Media Officer at Tankoro Police Division, confirmed that the matter is under investigation. He declined to provide further details, citing the need to avoid prejudicing the ongoing inquiry.
As the investigation unfolds, the community of Koidu City remains outraged, demanding accountability for the death of Tamba Mattia in police custody.
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