NAMIBIAN police chief inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says sergeant Hendrick Nghede, who allegedly travelled with Phala Phala farm heist 'mastermind' Imanuwela David, has been charged criminally.
Ndeitunga on Monday said Nghede, who is attached to the police's tourism protection unit subdivision at Lüderitz, was charged criminally for “committing corruption”.
Asked whether Nghede is still a member of the Namibian Police, Ndeitunga said “the law will take its course”.
David, Nghede and former acting Fishcor chief executive officer Paulus Ngalangi were arrested in Windhoek in June 2020.
David, who is one of five Namibian men accused of stealing US$4 million from South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm, was charged with violating the Immigration Control Act and Covid-19 state of emergency regulations.
Ngalangi and Nghede were charged with contravening the Immigration Control Act and under the Anti-Corruption Act for allegedly corruptly giving gratification to an agent as an incentive.
They will appear in the Noordoewer Magistrate's Court from 15 to 19 August.
A confidential police report compiled by the former head of the police's criminal investigations directorate, commissioner Nelius Becker, suggests that Nghede and Ngalangi assisted David with travelling to Windhoek.
According to the report, Nghede allegedly admitted to another police officer who questioned him about David that he and Ngalangi arranged for David to be assisted to cross the Orange River on 12 June 2020, and that they met him at Noordoewer.
“The assistance in getting him across the river was arranged with three men at Noordoewer, namely Petrus Erastus, Lameck Ndaningina and Immanuel Thomas,” Becker said in the report.
He also indicated in his report that it was alleged that Nghede offered police officer Petrus Mufoko N$5 000 for his assistance.
“We are considering using the sergeant as a witness against the CEO. He can allegedly make a statement that he was aware of the illegal entry.”
Becker added: “The persons at Noordoewer who assisted with the crossing must still be interviewed to see if they can link both the CEO and the sergeant to the crossing and prove they were aware of the illegality.”
According to the report, Nghede owns two Toyota Fortuner vehicles, which are registered in other people's names.
The Namibian could not get hold of Nghede yesterday as an officer at Lüderitz Police Station said: “Sergeant Nghede is no more working here.”
Another officer, however, said he would give Nghede a message to call the newspaper.
Nghede has not called at the time of going to print.
JUSTICE MINISTRY TO EXPLAIN
The Namibian Ministry of Justice has been placed in the spotlight as South African authorities have denied receiving any request from Namibian authorities in relation to the Farmgate saga.
The South African justice department as well as their National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have denied receiving any request from the Namibian Police to investigate the incident.
The spokesperson of the South African justice ministry, Chrispin Phiri, yesterday in a statement said: “We can categorically state that, to date, there is no official record of this specific request.”
He, however, added that the two countries are starting with talks on the matter.
The spokesperson of the Namibian justice ministry, Simon Idipo, yesterday said they would respond by tomorrow.
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