Jailbreakers still on the run

Today marks exactly 46 days since five awaiting-trial prisoners escaped from the Oshakati police cells. None of them has been rearrested and they are suspected to have fled to Angola. The five escaped in the early morning hours of 1 April after cutting open the roof of their cell. The Oshana police spokesperson, Sergeant Frieda Shikole, yesterday confirmed that no arrest had been made yet. The escapees, who were described as “very dangerous”, were identified as Arsandri Wendelinus (27), accused of rape in 2013; Theodor Sebedeus (26), accused of murder in 2013; Lukas Simeon (26), charged with murder and rape in 2012; Johaness Haihambo (20) charged with robbery and assault in 2016; and Iipinge Gustav (28), also known as 'Tupac', who is facing charges of murder, assault and malicious damage to property dating back to 2015. The police have not released any photographs of the five fugitives. Namibian Sun last month reported that the Inspector-General of the Namibian police, Sebastian Ndeitunga, had instructed the Oshana regional commander, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, to charge the officers who had been on duty at the time of the escape with negligence. “This is the most disturbing news, as I had given proper instructions to all regional commanders and station commanders that they should put in place strict measures to make sure that no more escapes from police stations take place, and whoever disobeys the order will be charged,” Ndeitunga had said last month. Yesterday, Ndeitunga said three officers had been charged for being negligent while on duty. Ndeitunga expressed his disappointment at the fact that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the police station was out of order on the day of the escape. “What happened was that the CCTV was not functioning that day because there was something that was faulty and that's why I initially asked them why they did not report that the CCTV was out of order,” Ndeitunga said. Ndeitunga said once the suspects were rearrested they would likely inform on those who had helped them to escape, hinting that officers might have had a hand in the escape.KENYA KAMBOWE

Jailbreakers still on the run

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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Jailbreakers still on the run

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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