Two Oshakati escapees rearrested
Two of the five awaiting-trial detainees who had escaped from the Oshakati police station in April this year have been rearrested and a third arrest is likely to happen soon.
The five escaped in the early morning hours of 1 April after cutting open the roof of their cell.
The Oshana police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Thomas Aiyambo, confirmed the arrests.
Aiyambo said Lukas Simeon, 26, charged with murder and rape in 2012, was rearrested on 2 May at Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region. Johannes Haihambo, 20, charged with robbery and assault in 2016, was rearrested on 16 May at Outapi in the Omusati Region.
Aiyambo said the police were informed that Arsandri Wendelinus, 27, accused of rape in 2013, had been arrested by the Angolan authorities at Ondjiva. A team would be sent to Angola to identify him.
The reason behind this uncertainty was because the suspect might have given the Angolan police a false name.
Theodor Sebedeus, 26, accused of murder in 2013, and Iipinge Gustav, 28, also known as 'Tupac', who is facing charges of murder, assault and malicious damage to property dating back to 2015, are still on the run.
At the time of the escapes, the situation irked Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, who instructed the Oshana regional commander, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, to charge the officers who were on duty at the time 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 was quoted as saying.
Ndeitunga expressed disappointment at the fact that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the police station was out of order on the day of the escape.
The police chief added that once the suspects were rearrested they might reveal who had helped them to escape.
He said the culprits were usually relatives of criminals who smuggled in contraband during visiting hours. Ndeitunga said gifts and food brought to prisoners would be searched.
KENYA KAMBOWE
The five escaped in the early morning hours of 1 April after cutting open the roof of their cell.
The Oshana police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Thomas Aiyambo, confirmed the arrests.
Aiyambo said Lukas Simeon, 26, charged with murder and rape in 2012, was rearrested on 2 May at Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region. Johannes Haihambo, 20, charged with robbery and assault in 2016, was rearrested on 16 May at Outapi in the Omusati Region.
Aiyambo said the police were informed that Arsandri Wendelinus, 27, accused of rape in 2013, had been arrested by the Angolan authorities at Ondjiva. A team would be sent to Angola to identify him.
The reason behind this uncertainty was because the suspect might have given the Angolan police a false name.
Theodor Sebedeus, 26, accused of murder in 2013, and Iipinge Gustav, 28, also known as 'Tupac', who is facing charges of murder, assault and malicious damage to property dating back to 2015, are still on the run.
At the time of the escapes, the situation irked Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, who instructed the Oshana regional commander, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, to charge the officers who were on duty at the time 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 was quoted as saying.
Ndeitunga expressed disappointment at the fact that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the police station was out of order on the day of the escape.
The police chief added that once the suspects were rearrested they might reveal who had helped them to escape.
He said the culprits were usually relatives of criminals who smuggled in contraband during visiting hours. Ndeitunga said gifts and food brought to prisoners would be searched.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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