|
Attack on police boss: Mental test for suspect
2005-09-03 07:51:33
By Guardian Reporter, Arusha
A former general manager of the tanzanite mining firm TanzaniteOne who allegedly seriously injured a top police officer on Thursday is to undergo a mental evaluation, police said yesterday.
Arusha Regional Police Commander James Kombe told The Guardian yesterday that Joseph Kimble would be taken to hospital for a psychiatric test.
’He doesn’t seem to be okay and we are arranging for his mental health to be evaluated at the regional hospital…his behaviour is not normal and he has to be evaluated,’ he said without stating when the evaluation would take place.
Kimble could not be taken to court in time yesterday and would now be arraigned on charges of assault and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Monday, Kombe said, adding that the suspect was still in police custody.
Kimble allegedly attacked the Arusha Officer Commanding District (OCD), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Salawi, at TanzaniteOne offices on India Road in Arusha on Thursday afternoon.
Kimble allegedly set upon Salawi and severely injured him in a vicious attack when the police officer attempted to arrest him, Kombe said on Thursday.
He said Salawi went to arrest Kimble after police were informed that a man was causing disturbance at the TanzaniteOne offices.
Police had earlier arrested Kimble for allegedly being disorderly, but released him after the suspect claimed that he had gone to demand 21m/- TanzaniteOne allegedly owed him.
He, however, returned to the offices where security guards denied him entry.
This made Kimble furious, prompting company officials to call the police.
A team of police officers led by Salawi rushed to the scene where Kimble lashed out at the district police boss, seriously injuring him on the face as the law enforcers attempted to put him under arrest, Kombe said.
Kimble was, however, subdued and taken into custody.
A TanzaniteOne official, Gamdust Haji, said the incident could have been avoided had police not released Kimble after initially arresting him.
He also strongly denied claims that the company owed Kimble 21m/-.
TanzaniteOne Chief Operations Officer Ian Harebottle said Kimble resigned in July, this year.
|
