Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir during Tuesday’s press briefing. [Photo: Abdulswamad Nassir/ facebook.com]
Mombasa county police commander Patterson Maelo has denied claims that his officers were targeting Muslim youth in their swoops.
Maelo said such are general swoops conducted in crime-prone regions in their bid to boost security, the Star has reported.On Tuesday, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and rights group, Haki Africa accused the police in the county of harassing youth coming from Isha prayers at 8pm.Their remarks came after a video of Suheil Ali, 22, showing him being slapped by four armed police officers in Old Town on Sunday night went viral.Ali recorded a statement at the Central police station over the incident on Tuesday.However, Maelo has denied that his officers were targeting Muslim youth saying the remarks were farfetched.“Haki Africa saying we are targeting Muslims is farfetched. Police are carrying out general swoops and targeted hotspots only, not the mosques as alleged,” Maelo said in his office on Tuesday evening.He said police misconduct can only be investigated if there are reports made at the police station and not at media houses.