Stripped naked over missing key
Two women and a man working for the Ondonga Traditional Authority claim that they had to undress in front of six police officers at the request of the authority's secretary, Nepando Amupanda.
The prosecutor-general will decide whether to prosecute the bodyguard of former president Sam Nujoma, Nepando Amupanda, and six police officers from the Ondangwa police station, following charges by three Ondonga Traditional Authority employees who allege they were stripped naked over a missing office key.
The Oshana police regional commander, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, confirmed to Namibian Sun yesterday that the Oshana police had completed a crimen injuria investigation involving senior leaders of the authority and police officers. She indicated that they had submitted the report to the prosecutor-general to decide whether to prosecute or not.
According to statements made by the three complainants and seen by Namibian Sun, on 22 March the three employees, two women and a man, were stripped naked and subjected to body-cavity searches by the Ondangwa police at the request of Amupanda, who accused them of stealing the key to the community court cupboard drawer.
Nepando claims that he is not aware of the allegation made against him, saying he is being victimised.
“We were taken to the community court hall where we found an angry Amupanda, who was accusing us of being responsible for the disappearance of the key. He called in six police officers from the Ondangwa police station.
They took us to our offices one by one, where we were stripped naked and our body cavities searched,” read one statement.
The statement says that the three were asked by the police to undress while Amupanda looked on. They were thoroughly searched. They alleged that after the search found no key, Amupanda told them to reveal what happened.
“I wish to vehemently point out that I found the strip and body cavity search to be extremely intrusive, demeaning, dehumanising, indecent, undignified, humiliating, terrifying, unpleasant, embarrassing, repulsive and signifying degradation and submission, as well as a gross and impermissible assault on my human dignity and privacy,” one complainant said.
Contacted for comment, Nepando said that he was a threat to employees and they were victimising him.
“I am not aware of any information regarding your questions. Hypocrites have always the luxury to do that. I am a threat to them and will always be. They are free to paint me any colour they wish, but the truth can set them free,” Amupanda said.
The Ondonga king, Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, appointed Amupanda as the traditional authority secretary in April last year after he had dismissed seven of his traditional councillors, including secretary Joseph Asino, chairperson Peter Kauluma, John Walenga and Vilho Kamanya, Kashona Malulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.
ILENI NANDJATO
The Oshana police regional commander, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, confirmed to Namibian Sun yesterday that the Oshana police had completed a crimen injuria investigation involving senior leaders of the authority and police officers. She indicated that they had submitted the report to the prosecutor-general to decide whether to prosecute or not.
According to statements made by the three complainants and seen by Namibian Sun, on 22 March the three employees, two women and a man, were stripped naked and subjected to body-cavity searches by the Ondangwa police at the request of Amupanda, who accused them of stealing the key to the community court cupboard drawer.
Nepando claims that he is not aware of the allegation made against him, saying he is being victimised.
“We were taken to the community court hall where we found an angry Amupanda, who was accusing us of being responsible for the disappearance of the key. He called in six police officers from the Ondangwa police station.
They took us to our offices one by one, where we were stripped naked and our body cavities searched,” read one statement.
The statement says that the three were asked by the police to undress while Amupanda looked on. They were thoroughly searched. They alleged that after the search found no key, Amupanda told them to reveal what happened.
“I wish to vehemently point out that I found the strip and body cavity search to be extremely intrusive, demeaning, dehumanising, indecent, undignified, humiliating, terrifying, unpleasant, embarrassing, repulsive and signifying degradation and submission, as well as a gross and impermissible assault on my human dignity and privacy,” one complainant said.
Contacted for comment, Nepando said that he was a threat to employees and they were victimising him.
“I am not aware of any information regarding your questions. Hypocrites have always the luxury to do that. I am a threat to them and will always be. They are free to paint me any colour they wish, but the truth can set them free,” Amupanda said.
The Ondonga king, Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, appointed Amupanda as the traditional authority secretary in April last year after he had dismissed seven of his traditional councillors, including secretary Joseph Asino, chairperson Peter Kauluma, John Walenga and Vilho Kamanya, Kashona Malulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.
ILENI NANDJATO
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