Tsumeb baby found, kidnappers arrested
A 23-year-old woman and her two accomplices have been arrested and charged for their involvement in the kidnapping of a three-month-old baby boy from his mother earlier this month in Tsumeb.
According to the police, Albertina Jason - also known as Tina - was arrested on Tuesday at Oshaandja village about 7 km from Oshakati West in the Oshana Region.
She was found with the baby boy, who was identified by his 18-year-old mother, who is from the Onheleiwa village.
The baby was checked by a doctor and was confirmed to be in good health and consequently handed over to his mother.
Police earlier said Jason left her home on Tsumeb on 15 May with the baby, claiming to visit her boyfriend at Oshakati, but never reached him or returned home.
It is alleged the mother of the baby was lured to Tsumeb after receiving an offer to work as a domestic worker.
“When she arrived in Tsumeb, an unidentified man and a known woman met her, and gave her N$400 to purchase food at a local retailer. Leaving her baby with one of the suspects, she entered the shop,” the police said.
“When she returned from the shop, the suspect and the baby were nowhere to be found. The mother tried to contact the woman on her phone, but it was switched off. The police were ultimately alerted and investigations were launched,” police spokesperson, deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said.
Postponed
The two accomplices have been identified as 21-year-old Lydia Kaunehafo Shimbilinga from Onheleiwa village and her 25-year-old brother, Joseph Natangwe Shatilwe, also from Onheleiwa. Shimbilinga is allegedly a domestic worker at Ondangwa and her brother a security officer at Swakopmund.
Both made their first appearance in the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court, and the case was postponed to 17 August for further investigation.
Safeguard your kids
“Kidnapping is unlawfully and intentionally depriving a person of liberty of movement and/or his/her custodians of control and therefore a serious offence, punishable by law,” Shikwambi said.
She cautioned mothers as well as fathers to safeguard their children at all times, saying that nowadays children can be stolen for various reasons.
She deterred Namibians from kidnapping children, and said anyone who encounters such a crime or falls victim should immediately report it to the police.
According to the police, Albertina Jason - also known as Tina - was arrested on Tuesday at Oshaandja village about 7 km from Oshakati West in the Oshana Region.
She was found with the baby boy, who was identified by his 18-year-old mother, who is from the Onheleiwa village.
The baby was checked by a doctor and was confirmed to be in good health and consequently handed over to his mother.
Police earlier said Jason left her home on Tsumeb on 15 May with the baby, claiming to visit her boyfriend at Oshakati, but never reached him or returned home.
It is alleged the mother of the baby was lured to Tsumeb after receiving an offer to work as a domestic worker.
“When she arrived in Tsumeb, an unidentified man and a known woman met her, and gave her N$400 to purchase food at a local retailer. Leaving her baby with one of the suspects, she entered the shop,” the police said.
“When she returned from the shop, the suspect and the baby were nowhere to be found. The mother tried to contact the woman on her phone, but it was switched off. The police were ultimately alerted and investigations were launched,” police spokesperson, deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said.
Postponed
The two accomplices have been identified as 21-year-old Lydia Kaunehafo Shimbilinga from Onheleiwa village and her 25-year-old brother, Joseph Natangwe Shatilwe, also from Onheleiwa. Shimbilinga is allegedly a domestic worker at Ondangwa and her brother a security officer at Swakopmund.
Both made their first appearance in the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court, and the case was postponed to 17 August for further investigation.
Safeguard your kids
“Kidnapping is unlawfully and intentionally depriving a person of liberty of movement and/or his/her custodians of control and therefore a serious offence, punishable by law,” Shikwambi said.
She cautioned mothers as well as fathers to safeguard their children at all times, saying that nowadays children can be stolen for various reasons.
She deterred Namibians from kidnapping children, and said anyone who encounters such a crime or falls victim should immediately report it to the police.
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Namibian Sun
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