Trafficking probe deepens
Police are gathering more pieces of evidence in the human trafficking case involving two Angolan nationals.
An Air Namibia employee and his Angolan accomplice initially charged with human trafficking did not appear in court yesterday because police were still gathering more evidence against the accused.
The two are accused of trafficking 11 Angolans into Germany. Both men have, however, been charged under the immigration act for being illegal in Namibia and they remain in custody. The 32-year-old employee of Air Namibia, working at Hosea Kutako International Airport as a check-in agent and a 29-year-old man were arrested on Monday for alleged human trafficking. They are both Angolan nationals. The arrest came after they allegedly “smuggled” 11 Angolan nationals, which included seven children, two men and two women on an Air Namibia flight to Frankfurt. All the passengers were detained by the German immigration police upon arrival in Frankfurt. Both men were due to appear in the Katutura Magistrate's Court yesterday. Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi said the two men are being held in custody on immigration charges while the other charges involving the smuggling of the Angolans into Germany were not placed on the court roll. According to Kanguatjivi, one accused had been working at Air Namibia with a work permit, but when this permit expired last year, Air Namibia provided him with the necessary papers to reapply, but he never did. The 29-year-old had also been staying illegally in Namibia since last year. Kanguatjivi said should the men be charged with regard to the 11 Angolans that were brought to Germany, it will involve a charge of smuggling immigrants while additional charges could be added such as trafficking of humans. “Currently more evidence needs to be gained and investigations are ongoing while statements have to be taken from witnesses,” he said. Contacted for comment on the new developments, Air Namibia spokesperson Paul Nakawa yesterday referred Namibian Sun to the police. With regard to Air Namibia's employee, Nakawa said, “Irrespective of whether he gets bail or not, he will undergo separate internal disciplinary action. Given the seriousness of the alleged misconduct he will most likely be suspended.”
ELLANIE SMIT
The two are accused of trafficking 11 Angolans into Germany. Both men have, however, been charged under the immigration act for being illegal in Namibia and they remain in custody. The 32-year-old employee of Air Namibia, working at Hosea Kutako International Airport as a check-in agent and a 29-year-old man were arrested on Monday for alleged human trafficking. They are both Angolan nationals. The arrest came after they allegedly “smuggled” 11 Angolan nationals, which included seven children, two men and two women on an Air Namibia flight to Frankfurt. All the passengers were detained by the German immigration police upon arrival in Frankfurt. Both men were due to appear in the Katutura Magistrate's Court yesterday. Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi said the two men are being held in custody on immigration charges while the other charges involving the smuggling of the Angolans into Germany were not placed on the court roll. According to Kanguatjivi, one accused had been working at Air Namibia with a work permit, but when this permit expired last year, Air Namibia provided him with the necessary papers to reapply, but he never did. The 29-year-old had also been staying illegally in Namibia since last year. Kanguatjivi said should the men be charged with regard to the 11 Angolans that were brought to Germany, it will involve a charge of smuggling immigrants while additional charges could be added such as trafficking of humans. “Currently more evidence needs to be gained and investigations are ongoing while statements have to be taken from witnesses,” he said. Contacted for comment on the new developments, Air Namibia spokesperson Paul Nakawa yesterday referred Namibian Sun to the police. With regard to Air Namibia's employee, Nakawa said, “Irrespective of whether he gets bail or not, he will undergo separate internal disciplinary action. Given the seriousness of the alleged misconduct he will most likely be suspended.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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