Detective arrested over escape

A MEMBER of the Namibian Police’s elite detective division, the Serious Crime Unit, has been arrested and charged in connection with a Zimbabwean bank robbery suspect’s escape from custody in mid-July.

Detective Constable Chaolin Tjitemisa (28) was released on bail of N$3 000 on Friday, after another Windhoek resident, Roberto Sikunda (33), had also been arrested and added to the case in which Tjitemisa faces a charge of defeating the course of justice. Tjitemisa was arrested on September 14 and remained in Police custody after making a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Monday last week.Sikunda was also granted bail of N$3 000.He and Tjitemisa made a joint appearance before Magistrate Helvi Shilemba on Friday.Tjitemisa, who is attached to the Serious Crime Unit, was a member of a Police team that investigated a series of bank robberies in Windhoek, Okahandja and Gobabis in March, April and May.He was also involved in the eventual arrest of six Zimbabwean suspects and a South African national in connection with these robberies in late May.One of the suspects was Zimbabwean national Itai Mashamba (31), according to the Police also known as Nox-Vusumbuzi Moyo.Mashamba and five fellow suspects were arrested after an alleged robbery at the Gobabis branch of Standard Bank Namibia on May 22.It is alleged that about N$202 000 was stolen in that robbery.When Mashamba and his co-accused were to make a second appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on September 4, the court was informed that Mashamba had escaped on July 13 – apparently from the tuberculosis treatment wing of the Katutura State Hospital.It is suspected that someone wearing a Police Sergeant’s uniform collected him, claiming that he was needed for further investigations.It is understood that Tjitemisa’s arrest followed allegations that one of the other detained robbery suspects had made against him.Tjitemisa’s lawyer, Bradley Basson, charged on Thursday that his client had been arrested on the word of a criminal.”This type of allegation has to be treated with extreme caution, especially given the fact these allegations came from inmates who were arrested by Tjitemisa,” Basson said.Tjitemisa strongly denied any participation in the alleged offence, the lawyer added.Tjitemisa and Sikunda have to appear in court again on October 23.Magistrate Shilemba granted them bail on condition that they do not interfere with the Police’s investigation of the matter or with State witnesses.Tjitemisa was arrested on September 14 and remained in Police custody after making a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Monday last week.Sikunda was also granted bail of N$3 000. He and Tjitemisa made a joint appearance before Magistrate Helvi Shilemba on Friday.Tjitemisa, who is attached to the Serious Crime Unit, was a member of a Police team that investigated a series of bank robberies in Windhoek, Okahandja and Gobabis in March, April and May.He was also involved in the eventual arrest of six Zimbabwean suspects and a South African national in connection with these robberies in late May.One of the suspects was Zimbabwean national Itai Mashamba (31), according to the Police also known as Nox-Vusumbuzi Moyo.Mashamba and five fellow suspects were arrested after an alleged robbery at the Gobabis branch of Standard Bank Namibia on May 22.It is alleged that about N$202 000 was stolen in that robbery.When Mashamba and his co-accused were to make a second appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on September 4, the court was informed that Mashamba had escaped on July 13 – apparently from the tuberculosis treatment wing of the Katutura State Hospital.It is suspected that someone wearing a Police Sergeant’s uniform collected him, claiming that he was needed for further investigations.It is understood that Tjitemisa’s arrest followed allegations that one of the other detained robbery suspects had made against him.Tjitemisa’s lawyer, Bradley Basson, charged on Thursday that his client had been arrested on the word of a criminal.”This type of allegation has to be treated with extreme caution, especially given the fact these allegations came from inmates who were arrested by Tjitemisa,” Basson said.Tjitemisa strongly denied any participation in the alleged offence, the lawyer added.Tjitemisa and Sikunda have to appear in court again on October 23.Magistrate Shilemba granted them bail on condition that they do not interfere with the Police’s investigation of the matter or with State witnesses.