Falanga
Electric shocks
Subjective Complaints
Headaches, back pains.
Objective Physical Findings
Regio brachialis, sup ventralis dxt:
Regio brachialis, sup ventralis sin:
2 round scars, diameter ½ cm
2 round scars, diameter ½ cm
Objective Psychological Findings
Nil
Conclusions
The objective findings correspond to alleged electrical shock torture.
5.1.10 Case J:
History
Mr A.S. was an assistant in a factory and is the campaign manager for an MDC candidate. He has
suffered intimidation and psychological trauma since the rejection of the draft Constitution. On
30/03 2 police officers came to his house as he was accused of being involved in the destruction of
the local ZANU PF
Offices. He was taken to court on this issue and detained. Upon release he was asked to give up
politics for the sum of 700,000 ZIM dollars. In April an army Brigadier came to his house and was
told that the decision to assassinate him had been taken. He was advised not to walk alone. After
that date he saw a car parked outside his house with 2 people in it. His neighbours claimed to have
seen guns inside the car. His child was asked whether MDC meetings were being held at his house
and informed that the house would be burnt.
Sympathetic police officers in the area were transferred therefore the police were too scared to act.
He heard that death threats were made against him at a public meeting and the police did not inform
him of this. Members of the community at the meeting questioned the death threat so people from
outside the community were brought in. The candidate was attacked on his way to work and doused
in petrol. There were witnesses to the incident. 4 days later at 8 p.m. approximately, 3 trucks full of
people arrived at his doorstep. They entered his home and poured 20 litres of paraffin on his
property. All his children were beaten and one of them was doused in petrol. Another child
sustained head injuries. The house was petrol bombed and his family went into hiding. 2 people
were taken to hospital and his wife and children are currently in another part of the country. He
cannot maintain his job and he has nowhere to live. He is currently forced to hide.
N.B. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN DATES AND MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON
THE INCIDENT DUE TO THE LEVEL OF TRAUMA SUSTAINED BY THIS PERSON.
Previous medical history:
In good health prior to torture. Never hospitalised.
Alleged Torture Methods
Psychological torture:
Physical and psychological attack on the family (wife and 5 children
beaten up).
1 son (20years old) beaten unconscious and left in the family's
burning house. The son is heavily injured, but alive, whilst the other
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