The detained accountant arrested in connection with the murder of Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) director general Guntila Muleya has alleged psychological torture by the police.
Francis Chipyoka, an IBA financial analyst, through his lawyer Friday Mulenga Jr, claimed that he was forced to confess during interrogations following his detention last month.
Mr. Mulenga submitted on behalf of his client that Chipyoka was subjected to psychological torture, including threats to his life, aimed at coercing him into confessing to a narrative constructed by the police.
This was detailed in a petition filed with the Lusaka High Court, where Chipyoka seeks an order for police to bring him to court. Arrested on July 28, 2024, and charged with murder on August 2, he has remained in detention for over 50 days without being presented before a court.
Chipyoka’s lawyer argues that his prolonged detention without court appearance violates Articles 11, 13, and 18 of the Zambian Constitution and amounts to an abuse of legal process. He also calls for Chipyoka’s immediate release or his swift presentation to a competent court.
Additionally, the petition requests a declaration that Chipyoka was subjected to torture and inhumane treatment during his detention, which breaches Article 15 of the Constitution. Chipyoka also seeks the return of a vehicle seized by police, claiming the confiscation was unlawful as no valid warrant was issued, violating Article 16.
The petition further highlights that during Chipyoka’s interrogation, he was denied legal representation, a violation of his constitutional rights. Mulenga states that his client’s eventual access to legal counsel only came after the police had forced him into self-incrimination under duress.
Chipyoka was arrested after his boss, Guntila Muleya, was found dead in August in Lusaka’s Njolwe area, with a bullet wound and signs of being handcuffed before being shot.
