Ondangwa prosecutor allegedly shot over failed N$100 000 bail bribe
• Plot allegedly hatched from prison cell
Staff Reporter
Windhoek
The ruthless 17 October shooting and acid attack on Ondangwa regional control prosecutor Justine Shiweda is allegedly linked to a failed attempt to bribe her with N$100 000 to grant bail for jailed former police officer Abner ‘Kapilili’ Mateus, Namibian Sun can exclusively reveal.
Police sources say the cash – allegedly channelled through an intermediary close to Shiweda – never reached her.
However, the intermediary reportedly lied to Mateus, claiming the money had been delivered and that Shiweda had agreed not to oppose bail.
When Shiweda unexpectedly denied bail, the move is believed to have enraged Mateus and allegedly triggered a plot to retaliate.
Investigators believe that Mateus – described by senior police figures as allegedly commanding a wide criminal network from behind bars – reportedly coordinated the attack from his cell after being misled into believing that Shiweda double-crossed him by accepting the bribe while denying bail.
On 17 October, the prosecutor was shot in the legs and doused with a corrosive substance in full view of her children. The attack occurred days after a break-in at her home. The attackers smashed her car windows and threw a mixture of hydrochloric and sulphuric acid at her. She has since undergone multiple surgeries.
The attackers had allegedly been promised N$400 000 to kill her, according to sources.
Work-related ambush
Oshana regional police commander Commissioner Naftal Sakaria confirmed at a recent press briefing that Shiweda was attacked in connection with her work.
“Investigations have firmly established that this attack was directly linked to the victim’s official duties in a high-profile criminal prosecution matter,” Sakaria said.
He named Mateus as the suspected mastermind. Senior police sources said the acid used is only available for purchase in Windhoek and Swakopmund. Two men who allegedly bought it on Mateus’ instructions were arrested after CCTV footage captured them buying it. They reportedly used Mateus’ car for the mission.
“That acid is so dangerous that if it is poured on your body, you will never heal again,” a source close to the case told Namibian Sun.
Investigations heat up
Six suspects have since been arrested, among them prominent Ondangwa medical practitioner Dr Fillemon ‘Fly’ Nakanduungile, who was denied bail in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court last week. While the precise nature of his alleged involvement remains unclear, Informante reported – citing Oshana regional crime investigations coordinator Deputy Commissioner Frederick Ndjadila – that a secret planning meeting was held at Nakanduungile’s house.
Other arrested suspects include Lukas ‘Mane’ Nekwiyu, police officer Sergeant Matheus Shipingana, Uusiku Petrus, Selma Bahn, Johannes ‘Giver’ Nghilifavali and Petrus Shikwaya. Shikwaya is believed to have played a role in purchasing the corrosive substance.
The group faces charges ranging from attempted murder and conspiracy to commit a crime to malicious damage to property and corruption.
Shipingana was arrested separately for allegedly accepting a N$1 000 bribe to remove Mateus from the Windhoek Correctional Facility cells under the pretext of taking him for medical care. Instead, he allegedly drove him to a guesthouse, where Mateus reportedly spent the day with his girlfriend.
Shipingana allegedly later became intoxicated and failed to return Mateus to custody. Mateus eventually walked back to the holding cells on his own, raising suspicion about the real motive for why he had left.
This led to Shipingana’s arrest. “[Shipingana] is not linked to the Ondangwa shooting – he was arrested for booking out an inmate under false pretences,” a senior police official told Namibian Sun.
Modus operandi
Police are also investigating allegations that Mateus is running a large criminal syndicate from behind bars.
“His main targets are people who have just retired and received large pension payouts. He has contacts in banks who alert the syndicate once the pension money is in,” a police officer familiar with the case claimed.
“Mateus’ group would then impersonate police officers, stage a fake roadblock or visit victims’ homes, plant criminal evidence – such as rhino horn – and accuse them of poaching or drug offences. They seize phones, documents and bank cards, and within an hour, the victims’ accounts are emptied.”
According to investigators, Mateus allegedly controls operations from his prison cell, with accomplices executing assignments outside. “He makes a lot of money – millions – by targeting pensioners. That is his modus operandi,” one officer alleged.
Windhoek
The ruthless 17 October shooting and acid attack on Ondangwa regional control prosecutor Justine Shiweda is allegedly linked to a failed attempt to bribe her with N$100 000 to grant bail for jailed former police officer Abner ‘Kapilili’ Mateus, Namibian Sun can exclusively reveal.
Police sources say the cash – allegedly channelled through an intermediary close to Shiweda – never reached her.
However, the intermediary reportedly lied to Mateus, claiming the money had been delivered and that Shiweda had agreed not to oppose bail.
When Shiweda unexpectedly denied bail, the move is believed to have enraged Mateus and allegedly triggered a plot to retaliate.
Investigators believe that Mateus – described by senior police figures as allegedly commanding a wide criminal network from behind bars – reportedly coordinated the attack from his cell after being misled into believing that Shiweda double-crossed him by accepting the bribe while denying bail.
On 17 October, the prosecutor was shot in the legs and doused with a corrosive substance in full view of her children. The attack occurred days after a break-in at her home. The attackers smashed her car windows and threw a mixture of hydrochloric and sulphuric acid at her. She has since undergone multiple surgeries.
The attackers had allegedly been promised N$400 000 to kill her, according to sources.
Work-related ambush
Oshana regional police commander Commissioner Naftal Sakaria confirmed at a recent press briefing that Shiweda was attacked in connection with her work.
“Investigations have firmly established that this attack was directly linked to the victim’s official duties in a high-profile criminal prosecution matter,” Sakaria said.
He named Mateus as the suspected mastermind. Senior police sources said the acid used is only available for purchase in Windhoek and Swakopmund. Two men who allegedly bought it on Mateus’ instructions were arrested after CCTV footage captured them buying it. They reportedly used Mateus’ car for the mission.
“That acid is so dangerous that if it is poured on your body, you will never heal again,” a source close to the case told Namibian Sun.
Investigations heat up
Six suspects have since been arrested, among them prominent Ondangwa medical practitioner Dr Fillemon ‘Fly’ Nakanduungile, who was denied bail in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court last week. While the precise nature of his alleged involvement remains unclear, Informante reported – citing Oshana regional crime investigations coordinator Deputy Commissioner Frederick Ndjadila – that a secret planning meeting was held at Nakanduungile’s house.
Other arrested suspects include Lukas ‘Mane’ Nekwiyu, police officer Sergeant Matheus Shipingana, Uusiku Petrus, Selma Bahn, Johannes ‘Giver’ Nghilifavali and Petrus Shikwaya. Shikwaya is believed to have played a role in purchasing the corrosive substance.
The group faces charges ranging from attempted murder and conspiracy to commit a crime to malicious damage to property and corruption.
Shipingana was arrested separately for allegedly accepting a N$1 000 bribe to remove Mateus from the Windhoek Correctional Facility cells under the pretext of taking him for medical care. Instead, he allegedly drove him to a guesthouse, where Mateus reportedly spent the day with his girlfriend.
Shipingana allegedly later became intoxicated and failed to return Mateus to custody. Mateus eventually walked back to the holding cells on his own, raising suspicion about the real motive for why he had left.
This led to Shipingana’s arrest. “[Shipingana] is not linked to the Ondangwa shooting – he was arrested for booking out an inmate under false pretences,” a senior police official told Namibian Sun.
Modus operandi
Police are also investigating allegations that Mateus is running a large criminal syndicate from behind bars.
“His main targets are people who have just retired and received large pension payouts. He has contacts in banks who alert the syndicate once the pension money is in,” a police officer familiar with the case claimed.
“Mateus’ group would then impersonate police officers, stage a fake roadblock or visit victims’ homes, plant criminal evidence – such as rhino horn – and accuse them of poaching or drug offences. They seize phones, documents and bank cards, and within an hour, the victims’ accounts are emptied.”
According to investigators, Mateus allegedly controls operations from his prison cell, with accomplices executing assignments outside. “He makes a lot of money – millions – by targeting pensioners. That is his modus operandi,” one officer alleged.
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