Lawyer Karel !Gaeb of Sisa Namandje Inc. has informed NBC News that he will institute legal action against the Namibian Police and three officers accused of assaulting 44-year-old Melvin ||Areseb in Usakos.

!Gaeb, who is representing ||Areseb on a pro bono basis, told NBC News that he has consulted with the family and will sue the Namibian Police for N$3 million in damages. 

He said the officers implicated in the alleged assault will also be sued in their personal capacities.

“Police brutality in Namibia is an ongoing concern which has reached the stage of a nightmare. There has been a severe lack of accountability despite our superior courts delivering countless judgements against the Namibian Police. It appears that the Namibian Police and other authorities have not learnt enough from the standing judgements of the High Court and Supreme Court, and an incident of such brutality committed against our client will have to reach the court, as we hold instructions to vindicate our client’s rights to the fullest extent. Such a state of affairs by those authorities (police) entrusted to protect the rights of citizens as provided for in our constitution cannot be condoned. The protector of constitutional civil rights cannot at the same time be allowed to be the grave violator of such rights without lawful justification, and if found to be unjustifiable, the violator cannot be allowed to go unpunished,” !Gaeb said.

||Areseb, who is currently recovering at the Katutura State Hospital, told NBC News that the alleged assault took place after police officers arrived at his residence about four hours after an argument with his girlfriend had ended. 

He said the officers handcuffed and assaulted him before detaining him overnight at the Usakos Police Station.

The following day, he was released and taken by his mother to the Usakos State Hospital. 

He was later transferred to Windhoek State Hospital, where doctors reportedly informed him that one of his testicles and some internal organs were damaged. 

He has since undergone several surgeries and is on a catheter.

Erongo regional police commander, Commissioner Niklaus Kupembona, has confirmed that his office is aware of the allegations and that the matter is receiving attention.

The regional commissioner also said that there is no official police report at the moment.