Two Windhoek police officers arrested

By: ADAM HARTMAN

TWO police officers were arrested in Windhoek on Friday for allegedly accepting a bribe to issue a vehicle clearance certificate to an applicant with a criminal record.

During a sting operation involving the police and Welwitschia Security Services, an applicant was approached by a sergeant who allegedly told him that a vehicle clearance certificate could be arranged for a “small fee”.
The applicant met the sergeant at the Katutura police station, where his fingerprints were taken. Before long the applicant was contacted by a warrant officer in the police’s fingerprint clearance department who said that his certificate would be issued within a few hours.
The applicant and the sergeant parted ways, but arranged to meet in the city, where the transaction would take place.
A fee of N$3 500 was paid, and the certificate was handed over.
The sergeant who found himself in the middle of a sting operation was arrested on the spot. The police then proceeded to the vehicle clearance department, where a struggle broke out during their attempt to arrest the warrant officer.
Both policemen remained in custody over the weekend and will appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today.
Khomas Deputy Commissioner Silvanus Nghishidimbwa confirmed the incident yesterday.

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