Honest cop spurns thousands in bribes
A police investigator based in the Otjozondjupa Region refused two attempted bribes totalling N$14 000 in December and January by the brothers of men behind bars whose alleged crimes he was tasked to investigate.
One of the men subsequently arrested on corruption charges after he allegedly tried to bribe the police investigator with a N$4 000 e-wallet transfer in December is the younger brother of businessman Tangi Sheefeni Amon Namwandi.
Namwandi, also known as 'Mox', was arrested in 2016 on rhino poaching charges, granted bail, and again arrested in 2017 on fraud charges after he was accused of attempting to steal more than N$1 million from Air Namibia.
He was granted bail of N$50 000 each time.
At the time of the attempted bribe, Namwandi was in custody again at Omaruru after he was arrested last year on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
It was while he was in custody, that his younger brother Mekondjo Namwandi (31) was accused of making a N$4 000 e-wallet transfer to the investigating officer of Mox Namwandi's case in order to secure bail for his brother.
The police officer, whose name has not been made public, alerted the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at Otjiwarongo, and Namwandi was arrested on corruption charges.
A sting operation was conducted by the ACC and the police, which led to the arrest of the accused on 20 December and after the money had been paid over via e-wallet to the police investigator.
Namwandi was granted bail of N$3 000 on 21 December and his case has been postponed to 6 March 2019 for further investigation.
Meanwhile, NamPol spokesperson, chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi yesterday confirmed Mox Namwandi was granted bail of N$2 000 on 27 December and the case has been postponed to 14 February.
In January, the same investigating officer faced another bribery attempt of N$10 000.
On 22 January, the ACC arrested a second man, Steyn Simasiku Musweu (33), after he attempted to bribe the same police officer with N$10 000 for the release of his brother, Musweu Regan Musweu, and his uncle, Fred Mwabi.
Both were in custody on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The officer again alerted his superiors and the ACC and another sting operation was conducted that led to the arrest of Musweu, a technician employed at Dundee Precious Metal in Tsumeb.
Musweu made his first appearance on 23 January and was granted bail of N$4 000. His case has been postponed to 16 April.
JANA-MARI SMITH
One of the men subsequently arrested on corruption charges after he allegedly tried to bribe the police investigator with a N$4 000 e-wallet transfer in December is the younger brother of businessman Tangi Sheefeni Amon Namwandi.
Namwandi, also known as 'Mox', was arrested in 2016 on rhino poaching charges, granted bail, and again arrested in 2017 on fraud charges after he was accused of attempting to steal more than N$1 million from Air Namibia.
He was granted bail of N$50 000 each time.
At the time of the attempted bribe, Namwandi was in custody again at Omaruru after he was arrested last year on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
It was while he was in custody, that his younger brother Mekondjo Namwandi (31) was accused of making a N$4 000 e-wallet transfer to the investigating officer of Mox Namwandi's case in order to secure bail for his brother.
The police officer, whose name has not been made public, alerted the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at Otjiwarongo, and Namwandi was arrested on corruption charges.
A sting operation was conducted by the ACC and the police, which led to the arrest of the accused on 20 December and after the money had been paid over via e-wallet to the police investigator.
Namwandi was granted bail of N$3 000 on 21 December and his case has been postponed to 6 March 2019 for further investigation.
Meanwhile, NamPol spokesperson, chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi yesterday confirmed Mox Namwandi was granted bail of N$2 000 on 27 December and the case has been postponed to 14 February.
In January, the same investigating officer faced another bribery attempt of N$10 000.
On 22 January, the ACC arrested a second man, Steyn Simasiku Musweu (33), after he attempted to bribe the same police officer with N$10 000 for the release of his brother, Musweu Regan Musweu, and his uncle, Fred Mwabi.
Both were in custody on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The officer again alerted his superiors and the ACC and another sting operation was conducted that led to the arrest of Musweu, a technician employed at Dundee Precious Metal in Tsumeb.
Musweu made his first appearance on 23 January and was granted bail of N$4 000. His case has been postponed to 16 April.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article