Foreign traditional healer nabbed
A 30-year-old foreign national was arrested by the police in Okahandja on Monday for allegedly illegally entering the country and operating as a traditional healer.
The suspect, a Tanzanian national, is charged by immigration for being in the country without a passport as well as theft under false pretences by the police for allegedly working as a traditional healer.
The man was arrested during a police intelligence-led operation at his flat in the central business district in the town, which was led by Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Fonsech of the police, and immigration officers.
He was set to appear in the Okahandja Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Speaking to the media at the flat, Fonsech noted that the suspect does not have any documents to stay in the country and is an illegal immigrant, nor does he have a permit to operate or is recognised by a traditional authority as a traditional healer. Fonsech said clients have reported paying a lot of money for so-called treatments that could put their health at risk.
The suspect informed the police and immigration officers that the “medicine” and an ATM card found in the flat did not belong to him but were left by a fellow traditional healer.
“I then started using the medicine, I am a traditional healer helping people, those who have been having bad luck,” said the suspect.
Fonsech expressed concern with foreign nationals who illegally operate in the country, fail to pay tax and export their earnings while the country is in an economic crisis.
She called on the health, finance and trade ministries to intervene as law enforcement agencies are only there to bring law and order and cannot solve such cases without the assistance of stakeholders.
NAMPA
The suspect, a Tanzanian national, is charged by immigration for being in the country without a passport as well as theft under false pretences by the police for allegedly working as a traditional healer.
The man was arrested during a police intelligence-led operation at his flat in the central business district in the town, which was led by Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Fonsech of the police, and immigration officers.
He was set to appear in the Okahandja Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Speaking to the media at the flat, Fonsech noted that the suspect does not have any documents to stay in the country and is an illegal immigrant, nor does he have a permit to operate or is recognised by a traditional authority as a traditional healer. Fonsech said clients have reported paying a lot of money for so-called treatments that could put their health at risk.
The suspect informed the police and immigration officers that the “medicine” and an ATM card found in the flat did not belong to him but were left by a fellow traditional healer.
“I then started using the medicine, I am a traditional healer helping people, those who have been having bad luck,” said the suspect.
Fonsech expressed concern with foreign nationals who illegally operate in the country, fail to pay tax and export their earnings while the country is in an economic crisis.
She called on the health, finance and trade ministries to intervene as law enforcement agencies are only there to bring law and order and cannot solve such cases without the assistance of stakeholders.
NAMPA
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