Cop crimes concern NSHR

NAMIBIA’S human rights watchdog has urged the Finance Minister to provide substantial amounts to the Namibian Police Complaints and Discipline Unit so that it can deal with a growing number of crimes committed by Police officers.

In its annual human rights report released this week, the National Society for Human Rights cited a number of transgressions by Police officers. On July 12, the Police arrested a Constable on suspicion that he looted goods and cash from dead bodies at the scene of a bus accident near Grootfontein on June 30.The Constable confessed that he had removed bedding, curtains and clothing from the accident scene, but denied having stolen the cash.The Police recovered most of the loot from the suspect’s relatives at Grootfontein.In June this year, a prison warden and a traffic officer were among five suspects arrested in connection with an armed robbery near Rehoboth.More than N$180 000 in cash was robbed in broad daylight when a vehicle belonging to a tourist lodge was held up at gunpoint.In another incident, a former Police Inspector and a co-accused were sentenced to a four-year jail term for stealing a car in Windhoek.NamPol also arrested a court interpreter on a charge of extortion in May.The suspect allegedly blackmailed a medical doctor into paying him about N$50 000 in return for destroying or handing over supposedly incriminating documents.On May 11, the Supreme Court held NamPol accountable for the looting of some 3 774 cases of beer from a truck that overturned near Tsumeb in August 2000.”In the presence of 25 officers, a mob of some 800 citizens looted the beer at the scene of a road accident,” the report states.Following civil litigation for negligence brought against NamPol, the Supreme Court ordered the Government to pay N$134 000 in damages.The Court ruled that the Police had not taken reasonable steps to maintain law and order as set out in the Constitution, Police Act and other statutes.In another case, a Warrant Officer was arrested on charges of corruption after he allegedly extorted money from a farmer.”The period under consideration also witnessed several incidents undermining the respect for the rule of law as well as the integrity and independence of the country’s system of administration of justice,” the report states.- NampaOn July 12, the Police arrested a Constable on suspicion that he looted goods and cash from dead bodies at the scene of a bus accident near Grootfontein on June 30.The Constable confessed that he had removed bedding, curtains and clothing from the accident scene, but denied having stolen the cash.The Police recovered most of the loot from the suspect’s relatives at Grootfontein.In June this year, a prison warden and a traffic officer were among five suspects arrested in connection with an armed robbery near Rehoboth. More than N$180 000 in cash was robbed in broad daylight when a vehicle belonging to a tourist lodge was held up at gunpoint.In another incident, a former Police Inspector and a co-accused were sentenced to a four-year jail term for stealing a car in Windhoek.NamPol also arrested a court interpreter on a charge of extortion in May.The suspect allegedly blackmailed a medical doctor into paying him about N$50 000 in return for destroying or handing over supposedly incriminating documents.On May 11, the Supreme Court held NamPol accountable for the looting of some 3 774 cases of beer from a truck that overturned near Tsumeb in August 2000.”In the presence of 25 officers, a mob of some 800 citizens looted the beer at the scene of a road accident,” the report states.Following civil litigation for negligence brought against NamPol, the Supreme Court ordered the Government to pay N$134 000 in damages.The Court ruled that the Police had not taken reasonable steps to maintain law and order as set out in the Constitution, Police Act and other statutes.In another case, a Warrant Officer was arrested on charges of corruption after he allegedly extorted money from a farmer.”The period under consideration also witnessed several incidents undermining the respect for the rule of law as well as the integrity and independence of the country’s system of administration of justice,” the report states.- Nampa