250 suspects on the run

A total of 250 suspects have been on the run since May last year after warrants of arrest were issued for them in connection with for various crimes. Police spokesperson Inspector Slogan Matheus told Namibian Sun that most of the suspects absconded from court hearings after they were granted bail. He said the majority of the suspects are men, with only 15 women among them. The suspects are wanted for various crimes, including murder, livestock theft, shoplifting, assault, abduction, drunk driving, pickpocketing and escaping from lawful custody. He said the police exhaust all avenues to find the criminals first, before making their names public and putting them on a wanted list. The names and full particulars of the suspects are published on the Nampol website after the police fail to locate them. He said opportunistic crimes like pickpocketing are generally associated with men, while cases of shoplifting and assault are likely to be committed by women. Asked why fugitive and convicted murderer Lazarus Shaduka is not on the list, Matheus explained that Shaduka’s case needs international exposure. Matheus also said the list is circulated locally unless information suggests that a suspect has left the country. In such cases, the information is then circulated internationally. He said when the wanted list is circulated the police then seek assistance from the public to trace the suspects. He explained that some suspects may in fact have died, while others have been re-arrested. WINDHOEK SELMA IKELA