Police respond to Amushelelo's claims
Activist accuses police of assassination
The police have urged the public to verify and confirm information from the relevant authorities before publishing stories.
"It is unfortunate that some content of dossiers that are still being investigated are being distributed on social media, which is aimed at undermining the systems and processes in place and interfering with the administration of justice."
This is according to a police media statement that was issued in response to various allegations that activist Michael Amushelelo made on social media last week.
In one of his posts on Facebook, he claimed that "corrupt" police officers were involved in the assassination of five people in Okahandja in an attempt to cover up their involvement in a drug case.
Okahandja shooting
The shooting incident to which Amushelelo referred took place in April 2023. According to the police, they received information about a planned robbery on a farm in the Khomas Region and at a gambling house in Okahandja. The officers reportedly chased the suspects and shot them on their way to the gambling house.
In Amushelelo's post, he attached a photo of the post-mortem examination that was carried out on one of the deceased.
"He was shot in his buttocks. It is impossible to shoot someone in the butt if he is sitting in a car. This supports the theory that the men were handcuffed, made to stand on their knees and shot like dogs..." the post reads.
He accused the police of lying to the public, claiming this is why no one has seen the vehicles of the police or the victims yet.
National police spokesperson, deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi argued that the disclosure of information in the file of a case under investigation could undermine systems and procedures.
"The police have systems and procedures in place to follow, and they cannot disclose information that may compromise an investigation," the police said in the statement.
Drugs ‘planted’
In the same Facebook post uploaded on 20 February, Amushelelo accused the police of planting drugs in the vehicles of Namcor's chairperson, Jennifer Comalie. According to Amushelelo, this is the reason why they murdered the five men.
Comalie was arrested in March last year after the police received a tip that there were drugs in her car. Amushelelo alleged that Namcor's managing director, Imms Mulunga, was the mastermind behind Comalie's arrests and that he instructed two men to place drugs in her car.
The shooting incident in Okahandja took place three weeks after the drugs were found in Comalie's car.
The police denied these allegations in their statement.
"At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that certain police officers were involved in the incident."
‘Cold-blooded murder’
"The Namibian police force has brutally murdered Christian Shamwaamba. The police in Oshikango are now attempting to cover up this murder. It is regrettable that the people who are supposed to protect us are now killing us."
This is another one of Amushelelo's social media allegations related to the murder of a young man whom he claims was shot by the police. Along with the post, he shared photos of the body.
"If you look at this photo, the man was shot in the back. We cannot allow criminals to wear uniforms and abuse their powers," reads the post from 15 February.
The police have denied any involvement in the incident.
"The incident occurred on Angolan territory, and the Angolan police are investigating the case. No member of the Namibian police force was involved in the incident."
Right to privacy
The police statement also warned the public not to spread indecent photos on social media.
"The Namibian Constitution stipulates that every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression. Nevertheless, the dignity and privacy of individuals in Namibia are both constitutionally enshrined and protected rights, even for those who are already dead."
"We appeal to all peace-loving Namibians to stop circulating or publishing any obscene or sensitive photos or material, as this may be in conflict with other people's rights and the laws of the country."
The police discouraged the public from initiating and spreading false, misleading, unfounded, malicious and defamatory information.
– [email protected]
This is according to a police media statement that was issued in response to various allegations that activist Michael Amushelelo made on social media last week.
In one of his posts on Facebook, he claimed that "corrupt" police officers were involved in the assassination of five people in Okahandja in an attempt to cover up their involvement in a drug case.
Okahandja shooting
The shooting incident to which Amushelelo referred took place in April 2023. According to the police, they received information about a planned robbery on a farm in the Khomas Region and at a gambling house in Okahandja. The officers reportedly chased the suspects and shot them on their way to the gambling house.
In Amushelelo's post, he attached a photo of the post-mortem examination that was carried out on one of the deceased.
"He was shot in his buttocks. It is impossible to shoot someone in the butt if he is sitting in a car. This supports the theory that the men were handcuffed, made to stand on their knees and shot like dogs..." the post reads.
He accused the police of lying to the public, claiming this is why no one has seen the vehicles of the police or the victims yet.
National police spokesperson, deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi argued that the disclosure of information in the file of a case under investigation could undermine systems and procedures.
"The police have systems and procedures in place to follow, and they cannot disclose information that may compromise an investigation," the police said in the statement.
Drugs ‘planted’
In the same Facebook post uploaded on 20 February, Amushelelo accused the police of planting drugs in the vehicles of Namcor's chairperson, Jennifer Comalie. According to Amushelelo, this is the reason why they murdered the five men.
Comalie was arrested in March last year after the police received a tip that there were drugs in her car. Amushelelo alleged that Namcor's managing director, Imms Mulunga, was the mastermind behind Comalie's arrests and that he instructed two men to place drugs in her car.
The shooting incident in Okahandja took place three weeks after the drugs were found in Comalie's car.
The police denied these allegations in their statement.
"At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that certain police officers were involved in the incident."
‘Cold-blooded murder’
"The Namibian police force has brutally murdered Christian Shamwaamba. The police in Oshikango are now attempting to cover up this murder. It is regrettable that the people who are supposed to protect us are now killing us."
This is another one of Amushelelo's social media allegations related to the murder of a young man whom he claims was shot by the police. Along with the post, he shared photos of the body.
"If you look at this photo, the man was shot in the back. We cannot allow criminals to wear uniforms and abuse their powers," reads the post from 15 February.
The police have denied any involvement in the incident.
"The incident occurred on Angolan territory, and the Angolan police are investigating the case. No member of the Namibian police force was involved in the incident."
Right to privacy
The police statement also warned the public not to spread indecent photos on social media.
"The Namibian Constitution stipulates that every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression. Nevertheless, the dignity and privacy of individuals in Namibia are both constitutionally enshrined and protected rights, even for those who are already dead."
"We appeal to all peace-loving Namibians to stop circulating or publishing any obscene or sensitive photos or material, as this may be in conflict with other people's rights and the laws of the country."
The police discouraged the public from initiating and spreading false, misleading, unfounded, malicious and defamatory information.
– [email protected]
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