N$200 000 theft: Eight suspects denied bail
Eights suspects, who stand accused of stealing goods worth N$224 631 from OK Foods supermarket, were denied bail after making their first appearance in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court last week.
Willem Mbundu (33), Romanus Ndara (29), Magreth Nyumbu (36), Ndimbulekweni Ndokotola (29), Asser Haingura (47), Nyumbu Katrina (45), Josophine Nyumbu (55) and Joseph Kaswama (37) appeared before magistrate Selma Shiiga, who postponed the case to 25 April for further investigations.
State prosecutor Michael Munika opposed bail, arguing that there are still more suspects to be apprehended.
“The State opposes bail because it is not in the interest of the public, and... for fear of interference in this investigation,” he said.
According to the acting regional commander in the Kavango East Region Eino Nambahu, the suspects were arrested for stealing the supermarket’s delivery consignment at Ekuli in the Kavango West Region.
“The mastermind behind this operation, Kaswama, allegedly decided to drop bags of maize meal at various places with the intent to sell them before dumping the truck at Rupara village and claiming he was robbed,” he said.
Over 500 bags recovered
Nambahu added that some of the maize meal was sold to local business people and some ended up in villages in both the Kavango regions.
“Upon information from our intelligence sources, there were bags that were hidden and the police had to inform those who bought the goods to voluntarily surrender the bags, which some did.
“The truck was carrying the consignment of 964 bags - 508 [bags] were recovered,” he said, adding that the consignment also included a total of 44 bags of chicken feed, of which 34 were also recovered.
Nambahu said three other accomplices are still at large.
“We have no doubt that they will be arrested as the arm of law is very long and can stretch to any house or village beyond the region.”
Further recoveries are expected to be made, he noted.
He also warned members of the public to refrain from buying goods from untrustworthy places.
“Items of these nature are sold at low prices to sell them quicker. The police will show no mercy to those who are buying these items as they are promoting theft in the region,” he said.
[email protected]
Willem Mbundu (33), Romanus Ndara (29), Magreth Nyumbu (36), Ndimbulekweni Ndokotola (29), Asser Haingura (47), Nyumbu Katrina (45), Josophine Nyumbu (55) and Joseph Kaswama (37) appeared before magistrate Selma Shiiga, who postponed the case to 25 April for further investigations.
State prosecutor Michael Munika opposed bail, arguing that there are still more suspects to be apprehended.
“The State opposes bail because it is not in the interest of the public, and... for fear of interference in this investigation,” he said.
According to the acting regional commander in the Kavango East Region Eino Nambahu, the suspects were arrested for stealing the supermarket’s delivery consignment at Ekuli in the Kavango West Region.
“The mastermind behind this operation, Kaswama, allegedly decided to drop bags of maize meal at various places with the intent to sell them before dumping the truck at Rupara village and claiming he was robbed,” he said.
Over 500 bags recovered
Nambahu added that some of the maize meal was sold to local business people and some ended up in villages in both the Kavango regions.
“Upon information from our intelligence sources, there were bags that were hidden and the police had to inform those who bought the goods to voluntarily surrender the bags, which some did.
“The truck was carrying the consignment of 964 bags - 508 [bags] were recovered,” he said, adding that the consignment also included a total of 44 bags of chicken feed, of which 34 were also recovered.
Nambahu said three other accomplices are still at large.
“We have no doubt that they will be arrested as the arm of law is very long and can stretch to any house or village beyond the region.”
Further recoveries are expected to be made, he noted.
He also warned members of the public to refrain from buying goods from untrustworthy places.
“Items of these nature are sold at low prices to sell them quicker. The police will show no mercy to those who are buying these items as they are promoting theft in the region,” he said.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article