/ 6 August 1999

CUSTODY DEATHS ALARM WATCHDOG

POLICE watchdog the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) is alarmed at the number of suspects dying while in police custody in a report issued on Friday. Figures released by the ICD, show that 756 crime suspects were either killed by police during arrests or died in police custody from May last year to March this year. Of those 88 were shot dead while committing a crime, 260 died during arrest, 65 died from injuries sustained prior to custody or during custody and 43 died at police hands during investigation into crime. ICD spokesman Tsoeu Ntsane said the ICD had received 2874 complaints in the past year. These included claims of torture, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and attempted murder.