A 68-year-old man died in police custody at Oshakati after a short illness.
Moses Johannes was arrested last month and was in police custody, awaiting trial to answer to a charge of assault through threatening.
Oshana police commander, Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria confirmed that the incident occurred in the Oshakati holding cells yesterday morning.
He said that is the only information he has so far.
One of the family members who spoke on condition of anonymity said Johannes had been unwell while in custody but was forced to attend court proceedings despite not being able to walk or stand by himself.
“Although he was taken to the hospital days after we complained, he was not done being treated.”
The family also complained about the condition of the cell in which Johannes was kept.
“Why did they keep him there, and not at the hospital under police guard? This is pure police negligence,” the family member said.