BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A Victoria Falls man, who was allegedly caught trying to sell raw ivory, was severely tortured by police and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers while in custody, a court has been told.
Victoria Falls resident magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa on Monday ordered the clerk of court to facilitate urgent medical treatment for Leonard Ndebele (33) after he appeared in court with a badly swollen face.
Maphosa said Ndebele (33) must be referred to Victoria Falls Hospital before his plea after she saw his facial injuries.
Prosecutors said on February 21 at around 6PM and along the Kazungula Road near Victoria Falls Primary School, the suspect was found in possession of two elephant tusks “which he was intending to sell without permit.”
The state said when the investigations have been completed, evidence will be led from witnesses who arrested Ndeble while trying to sell the ivory to a man identified in court papers as Stanley Mhaka.
Ndebele’s lawyer Nomusa Khumalo of Mvhiringi and Associates Legal Practitioners said their client sustained life-threatening body and facial injuries
“The right eye has visible injury that can be observed by the court,” Maphosa wrote in her order to the clerk of court.
“State is to investigate the alleged assault and give feedback on the next remand date.”
Ndebele will appear in court again on March 9 for further remand.
Police argued that the suspect should not be given bail as he was convicted on three occasions for theft in Botswana and had other pending cases before the courts.