Policeman arrested for poaching

Emergency services were called to the Western Bypass early this morning after a Namibian police minibus overturned, revealing at least three animal carcasses suspected to have been illegally hunted.
Three occupants, a Namibian police officer and two civilians, sustained various degrees of injury.
The police officer was taken to hospital, where he is under police guard, while the civilians were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
A witness who arrived at the scene shortly before 03:00 said pieces of oryx and a whole warthog carcass were scattered next to the overturned bus.
Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi of the police public relations department confirmed that three persons had been in the minibus with the registration number Pol 7853, and stickers indicating that it was allocated to the VIP Protection Directorate of the Namibian Police.
He said charges of drunk driving, reckless or negligent driving, and illegal possession of game meat were filed against the police officer.
He confirmed that the officer in question is a member of the VIP Protection unit.
Ministry of Environment and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the ministry was aware of the incident.
He said ministry staff were called to the accident scene and preliminary investigations indicated that there was no hunting or transportation permit for the carcasses.
“We suspect that the animals were hunted illegally and in this regard we are investigating a case of illegal hunting of game and possession of wildlife products. The investigations between the Namibian Police and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism are ongoing,” he said.
TANJA BAUSE