Police in Bududa District is investigating an incident in Nabooti Village, Nakatsi Sub-county, where a man allegedly ch0pped off his girlfriend’s hand, a minor, for rejecting his marriage proposal.
It
is alleged that the suspect, who was armed with a mach£te, allegedly waylaid
his 16-year-old girlfriend on a path to her parents’ home at about 9pm last
week and ch0pped off her right hand.
The
victim, a Senior Two student, also sustained several injuries on other parts of
the body. She is admitted to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
The
16-year-old said she was in the company of her friend on a fateful day.
“After
ch0pping off my hand, he took off, leaving me in a p00l of bl00d. It is my
friend who called my people and they took me to Bududa hospital where they
referred me to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for better management,” she
said.
The
victim accused police of releasing the suspect under unclear circumstances
after arresting him.
“I
want police to re-arrest the suspect because I need justice. He should be
arrested and prosecuted,” she said.
Daily Monitor has learnt that the matter was reported to Bududa Central Police Station but the victim was given a police form 3, indicating a case of defilement instead of attempted murder.
RELEASED
A
detective at the police station, who preferred anonymity, confirmed that the
suspect was arrested and released on the same day.
Ms
Juliet Khainza, the teenager’s mother, alleged that the suspect’s family
compromised the police officers.
She
appealed to Inspector General of Police and the head of the Anti-Corruption
Unit of Sate House, Lt Col Edith Nakalema, to intervene.
“The
Police Director of Criminal Investigations Directorate should also intervene
and help us to get justice,” Ms Khainza said.
She
said police should also be tasked to explain why they released the suspect.
“My
daughter has lost her hand and she is in pain. We don’t even have money for her
specialised treatment,” Ms Khainza said.
However,
Mr Jaffar Magyezi, the district police commander, said the suspect whom they
had arrested did not commit the crime.
DEFILEMENT
“We
had arrested the wrong person but the prime suspect is still at large,”Mr
Magyezi said.
Mr
Anthony Mutuma, the officer-in-charge of criminal investigations, said they are
investigating two cases of attempted murder and defilement.
However,
Ms Khainza maintained that her daughter was not defiled.
“That
CID officer is deceiving. I have never reported a case of defilement. The only
reported case is of attempted murder of my daughter,” she said.
Mr
Mutuma said they are finding it hard to find the suspect because the victim
told the detective that she could not identify the person who committed the
offence.
“We
arrested two suspects and we processed a file of attempted murder against the
suspects and I couldn’t release them because it is a criminal case. But the
Resident State Attorney in Bududa instructed us to release the suspects on
police bond because the victim in her statement was not clear.
The girl said it
was dark and that she could not recognise the person who committed the
offence,” Mr Mutuma said, a statement the victim refuted.
Ms
Betty Khainza, the district education officer, said they have started
investigating the matter.
Credit: thecitizen.co.tz
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