Confusion over captive

Police and human rights activists have given conflicting versions about the continued detention of a 32-year-old man who has languished in the Eenhana Police cells for the last five months.

The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) claims that Elifas Kandjambanga has been held “without court appearance since he was arrested on October 17 on charges of housebreaking”. But NamPol spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu retorted that “the man” was a suspect in a stock theft case and had been “dodging” the Police since 1996.”He has been on the run, he has been running away from the law for a long time,” Hamufungu pointed out.He said that Kandjambanga was first arrested by Police at Okongo in 1996 on suspicion that he stole over 30 head of cattle, “but when he got bail he absconded and just disappeared”.He was re-arrested late last year at Dama Township on the outskirts of Rundu.Since then, according to Hamufungu, he had appeared in court five times.Quoting Kandjambanga’s common-law wife and Police sources at Eenhana, the rights organisation maintained that Kandjambanga had never been brought before a court of law.His first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, according to an NSHR press statement.In terms of Article 11 (3) of the Namibian Constitution, all persons arrested and held in custody must be brought before the nearest magistrate within a period of 48 hours of their arrest.When The Namibian put it to the NSHR that the Police had disputed its claims, the organisation said it had already taken the matter up with the Inspector General of the Police, Lt General Lucas Hangula.”We are still waiting for a full report from the Inspector General… we want to know from him the exact whereabouts of Kandjambanga, if he has appeared in court already and on what charges,” the NSHR’s Dorkas Nangolo-Phillemon said.But NamPol spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu retorted that “the man” was a suspect in a stock theft case and had been “dodging” the Police since 1996. “He has been on the run, he has been running away from the law for a long time,” Hamufungu pointed out. He said that Kandjambanga was first arrested by Police at Okongo in 1996 on suspicion that he stole over 30 head of cattle, “but when he got bail he absconded and just disappeared”. He was re-arrested late last year at Dama Township on the outskirts of Rundu. Since then, according to Hamufungu, he had appeared in court five times. Quoting Kandjambanga’s common-law wife and Police sources at Eenhana, the rights organisation maintained that Kandjambanga had never been brought before a court of law. His first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, according to an NSHR press statement. In terms of Article 11 (3) of the Namibian Constitution, all persons arrested and held in custody must be brought before the nearest magistrate within a period of 48 hours of their arrest. When The Namibian put it to the NSHR that the Police had disputed its claims, the organisation said it had already taken the matter up with the Inspector General of the Police, Lt General Lucas Hangula. “We are still waiting for a full report from the Inspector General… we want to know from him the exact whereabouts of Kandjambanga, if he has appeared in court already and on what charges,” the NSHR’s Dorkas Nangolo-Phillemon said.