Zimbabwe activist accuses police of mistreatment after arrest for documenting diamond abuses

Zimbabwe rights activist claims jail mistreatment

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A Zimbabwean defense lawyer says a prominent activist has accused police of mistreating him after his arrest on claims he gave false information about human rights abuses in the country’s diamond industry.

Attorney Tino Bere says defense lawyers were denied access to Farai Maguwu, who heads an independent rights group, after he was moved to one of the nation’s dirtiest and harshest jails on Saturday. Maguwu turned himself in to police June 3.

He is accused of passing stolen state intelligence documents on corruption, rights violations and killings by troops in diamond areas in eastern Zimbabwe to the international diamond control body, charges he denies.

A bail appeal is set for Wednesday.