Army general’s stock theft accomplice still on the run
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
The police are requesting information which could lead to the arrest of Shoopala Ndele (28), a suspect in a stock-theft case involving former Namibia Defence Force (NDF) Major-General Thomas Hamunyela.
This was confirmed by Kavango West police deputy commissioner, Abner Agas, who last week told Namibian Sun a warrant of arrest had been issued, but police are finding it hard to track Ndele, who has been on the run since last year, down.
Ndele’s disappearance has stalled Hamunyela’s stock theft case as the matter has been postponed in hopes that the police arrest him.
In fact, the case was back in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on 21 October, but Magistrate Hellen Olaiya postponed it to 21 December for further police investigations.
Ndele, who is from Mutorwa village in the Kavango West Region, allegedly sold cattle to the former army commander.
Also currently out on bail for another stock theft case in the same area, he absconded court proceedings and has since been a wanted person by the police.
Meanwhile, Hamunyela was arrested on 12 January for allegedly stealing five cattle. He is currently out on N$5 000 bail, and is represented by prominent lawyer Sisa Namandje.
Strong case
The State is adamant it has a strong case against Hamunyela after ear tags were found on cattle which were allegedly stolen from Sipipa Thadeus Naironga.
Kanyetu Nicolaus Ndara, the police officer who testified during a bail hearing in January, told the court that they found the cattle in question with ear tags belonging to Hamunyela, while those belonging to Naironga were removed and some burnt.
One of the state witnesses is a veterinary service official whose name is known by this publication.
Ndara further told the court there appears to be a syndicate involving veterinary services officials who make ear tags available to culprits who then commit stock theft.
He testified that when they enquired about the ear tags belonging to Hamunyela, they were back dated to 2017, while others were backdated to 1 January 2019. This, he said, is questionable as 1 January is a public holiday.
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RUNDU
The police are requesting information which could lead to the arrest of Shoopala Ndele (28), a suspect in a stock-theft case involving former Namibia Defence Force (NDF) Major-General Thomas Hamunyela.
This was confirmed by Kavango West police deputy commissioner, Abner Agas, who last week told Namibian Sun a warrant of arrest had been issued, but police are finding it hard to track Ndele, who has been on the run since last year, down.
Ndele’s disappearance has stalled Hamunyela’s stock theft case as the matter has been postponed in hopes that the police arrest him.
In fact, the case was back in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on 21 October, but Magistrate Hellen Olaiya postponed it to 21 December for further police investigations.
Ndele, who is from Mutorwa village in the Kavango West Region, allegedly sold cattle to the former army commander.
Also currently out on bail for another stock theft case in the same area, he absconded court proceedings and has since been a wanted person by the police.
Meanwhile, Hamunyela was arrested on 12 January for allegedly stealing five cattle. He is currently out on N$5 000 bail, and is represented by prominent lawyer Sisa Namandje.
Strong case
The State is adamant it has a strong case against Hamunyela after ear tags were found on cattle which were allegedly stolen from Sipipa Thadeus Naironga.
Kanyetu Nicolaus Ndara, the police officer who testified during a bail hearing in January, told the court that they found the cattle in question with ear tags belonging to Hamunyela, while those belonging to Naironga were removed and some burnt.
One of the state witnesses is a veterinary service official whose name is known by this publication.
Ndara further told the court there appears to be a syndicate involving veterinary services officials who make ear tags available to culprits who then commit stock theft.
He testified that when they enquired about the ear tags belonging to Hamunyela, they were back dated to 2017, while others were backdated to 1 January 2019. This, he said, is questionable as 1 January is a public holiday.
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