An inmate housed at the Windhoek Correctional Facility’s Unit 6 wants monetary compensation for an assault he claimed was perpetrated on him by at least 15 correctional officers spearheaded by correctional officer SS Shanghala.
In a letter of demand sent to commissioner general Raphael Hamunyela on behalf of Fillipus Aiaseb, his lawyer Jermaine Muchali said his client is amenable to negotiations for monetary compensation or he will institute a claim in the High Court for between N$1 million and N$2 million for torture and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Aiaseb is serving a long-term sentence for murder and assault to do grievous bodily harm for the death of Marshall de Klerk.
According Aiaseb, on 2 May 2022 at around 17h30, he was subjected to torture and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm instigated by Shanghala on baseless allegations that he aided the escape of inmate Simon Noppie Kambindu from the facility.
He claims he was continuously kicked and slapped by more than 15 correctional officers in his prison cell, thereafter, handcuffed in the number eight style and taken to the dining hall in Unit 6 for similar and further physical abuse.
As a result of the torture and assault, he claims, he sustained permanent and recoverable injuries such as broken left central incisor, swollen gums and bleeding, chest pains, swollen head and body and swollen wrists and superficial injuries.
According to him, after the torture and assault, he was taken to the clinic at the facility and a nurse prescribed medication for his pains and injuries which is indicated in a medical report.
He vehemently denies having had a hand in the escape of his fellow inmate and says the assault perpetrated on him was unprovoked and unnecessary and he wants to be compensated accordingly and is willing to negotiate a settlement to curtail any civil claims being instituted against the Namibian Correctional Service, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security and Shanghala.