Kenyan policeman turns man eater

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 5 – A city businessman is nursing injuries after he was allegedly bitten by a traffic policeman in Nairobi on Saturday.

Mr Mohammed Abdullahi Abdirahman, 36, who is in the construction industry says he was bitten after a confrontation with a policeman who had stopped him at the Nyayo Stadium roundabout.

“The traffic officer stopped me and said I had (illegally) changed lanes and insisted on getting into my car as he ordered that I drive to the nearest police station.  When I refused to allow him into my car, he started pushing me and even forced me out of the car,” he told Capital News.

Mr Abdirahman said the officer even tried to switch off his car engine, while pushing him away.

“That is when I was bitten by the traffic police officer in full view of his colleagues,” he said.

During the confrontation, Mr Abdirahman said the officers eventually forced their way into his car.

“They inconvenienced me because they finally entered my car by force and compelled me to drive to the police station where I explained the issue to a senior policeman there who allowed me to take my wife to hospital before I returned to record a statement,” he added.

Mr Abdirahman said when he arrived at the Nairobi hospital with his wife, he discovered that some Sh50,000 that was in one of the compartments in the car were missing and went back to find out from the officers.

“I asked them and they all denied.  I have since recorded a statement at the Nyayo Stadium police post and I am demanding action,” he said.

“I was instead asked to write a statement and ordered to appear before a Kibera court on Monday where I was charged with a traffic offence,” he said and added that he had paid a bond of Sh5,000 after denying committing the offence.

Capital News independently confirmed that the report was made at the Nyayo Stadium Police Post under Occurrence Book (OB) Number 12/3/10/09 on October 3.  The incident occurred at 9.30 am.

Medical documents seen by Capital News showed that Mr Abdirahman was treated at the Aga Khan Hospital under Registration Number 554618 on the same day.

His injuries are classified in the medical documents as grievous harm inflicted on the left arm.

“I went to hospital and I was treated, I was even placed on ARV’s. I am still taking the medicines,” he said.

On Monday, the businessman recorded a statement at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), a copy of which was also seen by Capital News.

“This is a serious issue, I am pursuing the matter and I will have to seek justice,” he said.

Mr Abdirahman has now recorded yet another statement at the Lang’ata police station where an inquest file for the assault claim was opened on Monday.

His lawyer Mr Mohammed Bulle told Capital News his client is “traumatised because of what he underwent.”

“We have reported the matter to the police and we expect action, we want the officer responsible to be arraigned in court,” he said when reached on telephone.

“As you understand, my client is now nursing very serious injuries and has sought treatment in hospital where he has been placed on ARV’s.  That alone is enough to traumatise him,” he said.

source: Capital FM