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08:56Last update on: 13 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf SMS Of The Day * WHY doesn’t NBC listen when they are criticised? The little red chairs on Good Morning Namibia have done their part and are dirty especially at the arm rests. Please listen for once. You interview professionals and internationals on those Food For Thought * MINISTRY of Education, in order to address the shortages of teachers at primary schools why don’t you consider employing us who hold a diploma in lifelong learning and community education for teaching posts? We also did health education Bouquets And Brickbats * MY fellow Namibians, I am not a Swapo member but a third term for President Hifikepuye Pohamba will be a step closer towards attainment of Vision 2030. Believe me His Excellency has made crucial bold decisions, and I don’t regret
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NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-07-30
‘Fake cops’ robbery charges withdrawn
Werner Menges
THE charges against five men accused of having been involved in an alleged robbery in which N$2,2 million was stolen from a Lebanese businessman in Klein Windhoek in May last year were withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
With the investigation of their case still not completed, Deputy Prosecutor General Jackson Kuutondokwa has given an instruction that the charges against the five should be withdrawn at this stage, Public Prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt told Magistrate Justine Asino when four of the five accused made their latest appearance in court.
One of the accused, Eliaser Amukoto, also known as ‘Kambau’, was not present in court yesterday. He has been seriously injured in a road accident, and is receiving medical treatment in a hospital at Ongwediva, the magistrate was told.
Magistrate Asino informed the other accused – Josia (‘Zorro’) Muhongo, Michael Shidiwe, Mupopiwa Cheguevara Mupopiwa, and Nestor Kashuupulwa – that the charges against them were withdrawn, and that the money which had been paid to secure their release on bail could now be returned to the depositors of the money.
The men’s case was postponed for a final time for investigations to be completed when they made their previous appearance in court four months ago.
The five accused were charged with counts of robbery and impersonating a member of the Namibian Police in connection with an incident in which a Lebanese businessman, Vicken Kaprelian, was allegedly robbed of N$2,2 million at a house in Klein Windhoek on 16 May last year.
Kaprelian was at the house in the company of Muhongo, who testified during his bail hearing in June last year that he and Kaprelian were business partners. Muhongo also testified that Kaprelian was supposed to have a meeting with Shidiwe about a possible sale of an oil exploration licence by Shidiwe.
The alleged robbery is claimed to have taken place when a group of four men arrived at the house and announced that they were police officers who were investigating illegal activities. One of the men left the house with the bag in which Kaprelian had been carrying N$2,2 million in cash, it is alleged.
Shidiwe was arrested a day after the incident, while Amukoto, Mupopiwa and Kashuupulwa were arrested nearly two months later.
During their bail hearings the charged men all told the court that they were denying the charges against them and would be pleading not guilty at an eventual trial.
Kashuupulwa and Mupopiwa, who were both police officers at the time of their arrest, said they were surprised and disappointed by the withdrawal of the charges after their reputations had been sullied by their arrest and the subsequent legal proceedings against them.
Mupopiwa said he had been saying since the day of his arrest that he had nothing to do with the alleged robbery. He would have wanted to have the case against them run its course so that he could be pronounced not guilty after the evidence had been heard in court, instead of having the charges withdrawn, Mupopiwa said.
The withdrawal of the charges, without the delivery of a verdict in the men’s case, means that they could again be charged later if the Office of the Prosecutor General decides to prosecute them on the same charges.
Muhongo was free on bail in an amount of N$30 000. Shidiwe and Amukoto were free on bail of N$20 000 each, while Mupopiwa and Kashuupulwa were free on bail of N$5 000 each.
With the investigation of their case still not completed, Deputy Prosecutor General Jackson Kuutondokwa has given an instruction that the charges against the five should be withdrawn at this stage, Public Prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt told Magistrate Justine Asino when four of the five accused made their latest appearance in court.
One of the accused, Eliaser Amukoto, also known as ‘Kambau’, was not present in court yesterday. He has been seriously injured in a road accident, and is receiving medical treatment in a hospital at Ongwediva, the magistrate was told.
Magistrate Asino informed the other accused – Josia (‘Zorro’) Muhongo, Michael Shidiwe, Mupopiwa Cheguevara Mupopiwa, and Nestor Kashuupulwa – that the charges against them were withdrawn, and that the money which had been paid to secure their release on bail could now be returned to the depositors of the money.
The men’s case was postponed for a final time for investigations to be completed when they made their previous appearance in court four months ago.
The five accused were charged with counts of robbery and impersonating a member of the Namibian Police in connection with an incident in which a Lebanese businessman, Vicken Kaprelian, was allegedly robbed of N$2,2 million at a house in Klein Windhoek on 16 May last year.
Kaprelian was at the house in the company of Muhongo, who testified during his bail hearing in June last year that he and Kaprelian were business partners. Muhongo also testified that Kaprelian was supposed to have a meeting with Shidiwe about a possible sale of an oil exploration licence by Shidiwe.
The alleged robbery is claimed to have taken place when a group of four men arrived at the house and announced that they were police officers who were investigating illegal activities. One of the men left the house with the bag in which Kaprelian had been carrying N$2,2 million in cash, it is alleged.
Shidiwe was arrested a day after the incident, while Amukoto, Mupopiwa and Kashuupulwa were arrested nearly two months later.
During their bail hearings the charged men all told the court that they were denying the charges against them and would be pleading not guilty at an eventual trial.
Kashuupulwa and Mupopiwa, who were both police officers at the time of their arrest, said they were surprised and disappointed by the withdrawal of the charges after their reputations had been sullied by their arrest and the subsequent legal proceedings against them.
Mupopiwa said he had been saying since the day of his arrest that he had nothing to do with the alleged robbery. He would have wanted to have the case against them run its course so that he could be pronounced not guilty after the evidence had been heard in court, instead of having the charges withdrawn, Mupopiwa said.
The withdrawal of the charges, without the delivery of a verdict in the men’s case, means that they could again be charged later if the Office of the Prosecutor General decides to prosecute them on the same charges.
Muhongo was free on bail in an amount of N$30 000. Shidiwe and Amukoto were free on bail of N$20 000 each, while Mupopiwa and Kashuupulwa were free on bail of N$5 000 each.
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(August 13)
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