By 
A 15-year-old boy who was arrested on January 26, this year has allegedly been in detention in an adult cell at Matero Police Station.
According to an application for habeas corpus filed in the Lusaka High Court on behalf of the minor on February 21, the boy’s guardian, Elizabeth Ng’oma said that he had been in detention at Matero Police Station since his arrest on January 26.
Ng’oma said the juvenile was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Officer, known as Simwanza, of the same station.
She stated that since the boy’s arrest, he had not been presented before a court to answer to the purported charge levelled against him as he had not yet even been formally charged.
“That his health is deteriorating while being detained and the police officers are hindering relatives to bring him food, which is inhuman treatment of a minor. That a minor must not be detained for more than 48hours and must not be placed in the same police cells as adults,” she stated.
Ng’oma said efforts to secure his bond had proved futile in spite of him having traceable sureties
She pleaded with the Court to grant the application and summon officer Simwanza.
The case had since been transferred to case to the Family and Children’s Court Division.
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