An order to remove a stable fence leads to the loss of the life of a citizen at the hands of the Police in Damanhoor
The Prosecutor’s office of Damanhoor gave an order of arrest of Major Mohamed Roshdy yesterday Friday 30/10/2009 . He is the head of demolitions at the Damanhoor Police Centre, he is to be charged with the homicide of Mohamed Ramzy Ali Ibrahim Al Sharkawy a 62 year old farmer who lives in the village of Menia Atteya under the Damanhoor Police Centre of Beheira governorate. This is case number 7366 for the year 2009 of the Damanhoor Police Centre. It was also decided that the driver of the demolition truck should be detained for four days under investigation, after which he is to be charged with murder. Three employees of the local unit of the village of Desoonis Om Dinar will be charged with manslaughter and gross negligence. They are Rafik Salama an employee of the local unit, Mamdouh Taha the head of urban planning and Mohamed Madi head of the demolitions section.
The witnesses confirmed the incident when questioned by the Prosecutor’s office. The investigation started on Thursday evening and ended Friday morning. The investigation shows that Major Roshdy assaulted the victim because he was standing in front of the fence that was to be demolished. The victim could not take the beating so he fell unconscious in front of the fence. The major then gave the order to demolish the fence to the demolition truck driver saying, “ Tear it down on top of whoever is in front of it”. The driver followed the orders and the wall fell on the unconscious man and his blood flowed.
The truck driver tried to escape by running through the farms but was caught by the villagers. The major was able to flee after shooting his gun in the air and threatening the villagers.
Mr Waleed Al Beheiry the Public Prosecutor of Damanhoor and Mr Ali Abd El Bary the prosecutor of the Damanhoor Police centre went to the scene of the crime. They found blood on the demolition instrument of the truck and on the bricks of the fence, they also examined the victims body and transferred it to the Damanhoor educational hospital.
The Prosecutor’s office summoned Atta Salama the chairman of the Desoonis Om Dinar council who ascertained that the responsibility of the demolition was the Local Unit’s employees. The police were only there for protection of local unit employees and were not there to give the order.
The prosecutor’s office investigated by questioning the employees of the Local Unit and charged them with manslaughter and gross negligence. After questioning the truck driver they charged him with murder.
It is important to note that Colonel Sa’id Shams the deputy of Damanhoor Police Centre made a report stating that after the order for demolition the victim refused to move away from the fence so bricks from the fence fell on him, which led to his death.
The prosecutor’s office brought in a forensic doctor to perform the autopsy of the deceased and allowed the victim’s family to bury him. They also ordered an investigation of the evidence in a criminal evidence lab.
The Al Nadeem centre lawyer Mr. Mohamed Al Sharkawy attended the prosecution’s investigation on behalf of the victim’s family. The lawyer accused the Damanhoor Police centre of falsifying a report. He also made a civil claim against the accused for 1001LE as temporary compensation.