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Local News|
Friday, January 28, 2005 - Web posted at 7:46:56 GMT Heist money recovered in South Africa LINDSAY DENTLINGERTHE Namibian Police have recovered N$1,35 million in cash stolen in the country's biggest ever cash-in-transit heist from South Africa, as a fifth suspect appeared in court yesterday for his alleged involvement in the case. |
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The money was fetched from Kakamas in South Africa's Northern Cape Province on Wednesday, where a girlfriend of one of the suspects, Benedictus Kasimbinge, approached Absa Bank earlier this month to have the money put in a safe deposit box. The money forms part of the total recovery amount to date of N$3,39 million, from the total loot of N$5,76 million stolen from a Fidelity Services van near Brakwater on December 29. Suspected heist kingpin, Jason Awene aka Kilingi, who fled to South Africa on January 10, has still not been captured. He was resident in Windhoek's Okuryangava area before he fled. The more than N$2 million not yet recovered is believed to be in his possession. Police said they did not have any leads as to where in South Africa Awene was hiding and whether he was moving with any other people, but said he was their last suspect in the case. He is believed to have been the "hitch-hiker" who wielded the gun at the driver of the vehicle Jan Julius (also a suspect in custody) and ordered the van off the road. The fifth alleged robber, Matheus Hauwanga (34), a resident of Windhoek's Kleine Kuppe suburb, appeared before Magistrate Peter Kavaongelwa in the Windhoek Magistrate's court yesterday following his arrest on Tuesday. He was remanded in custody pending further Police investigations, and is set to appear with his co-accused on February 9. Late yesterday afternoon, officials from the Bank of Namibia were still counting the wads of crisp new N$100 and N$50 notes at the Police Serious Crime Unit to verify the exact amount. The Police have now also revealed that the largest chunk of the stolen loot - N$3,7 million - belongs to First National Bank. Another N$1,3 million is Nedbank's and about N$500 000 belongs to Bank Windhoek. The woman who attempted to deposit the stolen cash is a South African citizen, and has not yet been arrested. Kasimbinge, a farmer in the Karasburg area, is believed to have travelled to Kakamas to leave the money with her. Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said that NamPol would work with South African authorities to track down the woman. The five men captured by the Police are Julius, Hauwanga, Kasimbinge, George Jambeinge and Elikana Grun Nghimwena. All except Nghimwena are in custody. Nghimwena was granted bail of N$10 000 last Friday after claiming that he had been assaulted and tortured by the Police officers who interrogated him. He has to report to the Oshakati Police three times a week and may not leave the area without permission from the Oshakati Police Station Commander. |
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PO Box 20783 - Windhoek - 42 John Meinert Street Tel: +264 (61) 279600 - Fax: +264 (61) 279602
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