Army cop runs amok

NINETEEN army recruits at the Osona Military Base were assaulted and found themselves staring down the barrel of a gun when a Military Police corporal went on the rampage.

Sources revealed to The Namibian this week that the suspect, Corporal Charles Ngeama (32), went berserk when he returned from an outing to Okahandja on the evening of Saturday April 17. The pistol-wielding Ngeama allegedly assaulted recruits with a metal belt, fired shots into the air and threatened them with the firearm.Four sustained serious injuries:they were beaten with the metal belt and kicked, and had to be treated at the military base medical centre.A female cadet’s eye was so badly swollen that she had to be transferred to the Peter Mweshihange Military Medical Centre in Windhoek for treatment.Most of the injured were severely bruised and sustained open wounds.The Police Public Relations Department confirmed the incident and said Ngeama would remain in Police custody until his next court appearance on June 21.Criminal acts that occur within the confines of military property are seldom dealt with by the Police and the courts.Information surrounding the incident only emerged this week.”It’s the tendency here not to expose what’s happening,” said a well-placed source.Those who were attacked are all part of the most recent intake of recruits at the base, situated outside Okahandja.According to another source, the recruits were enjoying their free time, sitting outside the barracks while others were studying or still in the canteen, when Ngeama allegedly began kicking and hitting them.When they tried to resist, Ngeama allegedly fired three shots into the air with a Makarov pistol.The weapon does not belong to the Namibian Defence Force.He was arrested by the Okahandja Police the next day after some of the recruits had to receive medical attention at a State health facility and first had to file a Police report.Ngeama appeared in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court last week on charges of assault and of pointing a firearm.According to the Police, Ngeama is said to have taken the pistol from another military officer, whom he met at Okahandja that afternoon, for safe-keeping.When he returned to the base, he began wielding the weapon, allegedly pointing it at the new recruits, threatening them.Sources say he was supposedly on duty at the base on the day he went to Okahandja.The Military Police are responsible for enforcing discipline among soldiers.The pistol-wielding Ngeama allegedly assaulted recruits with a metal belt, fired shots into the air and threatened them with the firearm.Four sustained serious injuries:they were beaten with the metal belt and kicked, and had to be treated at the military base medical centre.A female cadet’s eye was so badly swollen that she had to be transferred to the Peter Mweshihange Military Medical Centre in Windhoek for treatment.Most of the injured were severely bruised and sustained open wounds.The Police Public Relations Department confirmed the incident and said Ngeama would remain in Police custody until his next court appearance on June 21.Criminal acts that occur within the confines of military property are seldom dealt with by the Police and the courts.Information surrounding the incident only emerged this week.”It’s the tendency here not to expose what’s happening,” said a well-placed source.Those who were attacked are all part of the most recent intake of recruits at the base, situated outside Okahandja.According to another source, the recruits were enjoying their free time, sitting outside the barracks while others were studying or still in the canteen, when Ngeama allegedly began kicking and hitting them.When they tried to resist, Ngeama allegedly fired three shots into the air with a Makarov pistol.The weapon does not belong to the Namibian Defence Force.He was arrested by the Okahandja Police the next day after some of the recruits had to receive medical attention at a State health facility and first had to file a Police report.Ngeama appeared in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court last week on charges of assault and of pointing a firearm.According to the Police, Ngeama is said to have taken the pistol from another military officer, whom he met at Okahandja that afternoon, for safe-keeping.When he returned to the base, he began wielding the weapon, allegedly pointing it at the new recruits, threatening them.Sources say he was supposedly on duty at the base on the day he went to Okahandja.The Military Police are responsible for enforcing discipline among soldiers.