HC Deb 25 November 1953 vol 521 cc42-3W
Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the wife of Chief Gommani of Nyasaland, was taken into custody with him, handcuffed and kept in prison.

Mr. Lyttelton

On 30th May, when Chief Gomani and his family were taken from the custody of the Portuguese authorities into that of the Nyasaland police, his wife was taken into custody on possible charges in connection with the disturbances at Lizulu on 26th May. All the persons arrested were at first handcuffed to prevent their escape, since Chief Gomani had forcibly escaped from custody four days earlier; but the handcuffs were removed from the female prisoners as soon as the vehicle in which they were travelling moved off. The wife of Chief Gomani was detained in custody until the next day, but she was not lodged in prison.

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