Cape Town – One of the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Hillary Gardee reportedly claimed that he was tortured by police to implicate Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu.
According to Times Live, Philemon Lukhele said this in a sworn statement.
The statements of the other two accused were also similar to Lukhele’s.
The trio said that during the first hours of the investigation, police officers asked questions about Shivambu, without any indication of why or how he would have allegedly been involved, the report said.
It was alleged that electric shocks, beatings, suffocation with plastic bags and waterboarding were used by the police on the trio.
However, the police rubbished the claims, maintaining that at no point were the accused tortured.
“There was no torture by the police to the suspects. The investigation is still ongoing and the case is currently on the court roll, so unfortunately we will not be able to comment on the merits and processes of the investigation,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala as quoted by the report.
Briefly reported that an investigation to the claims was under way.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Shuping said the investigation into the matter was still in the early stages and the complainants were interviewed, said the report.
Hillary went missing on April 29 after a shopping trip to a Spar near her home in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
She was found dead in a field outside Mbombela, Mpumalanga on May 3 with a gun wound on her head.
Sipho Lawrence Mkatshwa, Philemon Lukhele and Mduzuzi Gama were arrested and charged with murder, rape, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and possession of illegal firearms.
Hillary was the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
