A Somali based in the US has appealed to the authorities to investigate controversial Pangani police station-based officer Sergeant Rashid Ahmed over claims of torture, extrajudicial killings and extortion.
Ali Mohammed Ally says he was conned Ksh1.8million and while pursuing the matter he was instead arrested and detained at Pangani police station.
“I was tortured in Kenya, sleep-deprived, refused my diabetic medication, cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment, wrongfully imprisoned, and physically abused with an electrical wire that caused a burn on my right hand after I filed my complaints,” Ally said.
Ally claims he was defrauded the cash after some people pretended to sell him a business entity in Pangani.
“The business in question was initially being operated by one Abdulkarim Massoud, who made his intention of selling it known. I was enticed by the lucrative deal, little did I know that I was signing a contract inviting untold suffering and tribulations in my life,” he said.
“I agreed to purchase the business and sent a cumulative sum of Ksh1.8 million via RTGS, direct bank transfer to account 0100004637*** via an international bank,” he added.
The US-based businessman claims after he was scammed of Ksh1.8 million through the proxy, he was instead arrested and detained at Pangani police station and the matter was handled by Abdulkarim Masoud.
The matter was reported to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) where he recorded his statement and availed the witnesses. The issue was also reported to the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU).
Threats
Following threats to his life, he made an application to the Witness Protection Agency (WPA) at the Milimani Court but the application is still pending.
According to Ally, Rashid is protected by Ogaden businessmen and politicians and cartels who are bribing higher authorities to keep him at Pangani.
“Ahmed Rashid abducted and kidnapped me in September 2018 where he tortured me violently and tried to slaughter me with a panga. He later took me to Pangani Police Station and was held for days,” he said.
He further claimed that Rashid has been transferred several times but his transfers have always been cancelled in unclear circumstances.
According to Ally, the officer is being protected by the Ogaden businessmen who have a direct link to senior officers at the headquarters.
“The wealthy officer has enriched himself through extortion and protection of Somalia cartels. He targets people from other religions and Mathare youths to distract attention from his secret activities in Eastleigh and Pangani.
IPOA
The IPOA has also in the past said that they were experiencing challenges in investigating some cases due to witness intimidation.
According to IPOA, they had received numerous cases against Sergeant Rashid but the cases had not been concluded as the key witnesses were reluctant to record their statements with the detectives.
“IPOA has noted with a lot of concern that the misuse of firearms and use of excessive force continues to be the biggest challenge facing the National Police Service,” IPOA Chairperson Ann Makori said.
According to the police oversight body and the Internal Affairs Unit, the unjustified use of deadly force by the officers is however the tip of the iceberg as most probes into cases of extrajudicial killings had stalled due to witness threats and intimidation.
Though allegations had earlier been levelled against him, he would later be known for the 2017 shooting of two unarmed men in Eastleigh.
In a video that went viral, Rashid pumped bullets into the young boy, then got another gun from his colleague and continued and sprayed additional four bullets on the man who was already on the ground.
