The police have called on Dominican priest Mark Montebello to be prudent and let the rule of law prevail in a case where he has criticised the police over their treatment of Nigerian man Monday Iseki.

Referring to statements issued by Fr Montebello, the police said a tirade of serious allegations had been made against the officers who effected the arrest of Mr Iseki.

"We appreciate the fact that Fr Montebello has, in a democratic country, the right to air his views, however, Fr Montebello should be aware that his right of expression is not total or absolute as it comes also with its limitations," the police said.

It explained that the case is still sub-judice but the allegations made by Fr Montebello as to what happened in the court room on Tuesday March 2 were completely unfounded.

"If one resorts to and compares the transcripts of evidence tendered by the two police officers referred to in Fr Montebello’s statement, it becomes clear that at no stage were there any contradictions in their testimony. This is a far cry from what was stated by Fr Mark that “in general the witnesses were in agreement but cancelled out each other in the details”.

Moreover, Fr Mark Montebello was also incorrect as regards the days Mr Iseki had been in detention, the police said By the next sitting, tomorrow, the Nigerian national would have been detained for 23 days and not 32 as erroneously stated in Fr Montebello’s statement.

He was arraigned in court on 12 February 2010 and denied bail. During the second sitting, on February 23, he did request bail and the case was put off for March 2. It was during this last sitting that he asked again for bail and a decision to this effect will be delivered by the presiding Magistrate tomorrow.

Mr Iseki is charged with slightly injuring a policeman, disobeying a legitimate police order and resisting arrest.