Investigations into the conduct of deputy commissioner Hermias van Zyl have widened, with police chief Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga confirming another probe.
Ndeitunga said Van Zyl was being investigated for the alleged abuse of informants’ funds, and for involving his family in police narcotics business.
The two allegations are in addition to an ongoing investigation into Van Zyl’s role in a 2012 drug operation gone wrong.
Ndeitunga warned, however, that these are still mere allegations and not offences Van Zyl, head of the Namibian Police’s drug law enforcement division, is being investigated for.
‘Until now, they are allegations which have tarnished the image of the police and the drug law enforcement division,’ the police chief stressed.
The Namibian on Monday reported that Van Zyl is under investigation over claims that he made a highly irregular arrangement with a suspected dealer, allowing him to sell cocaine.
He is accused of not following protocol when he allowed the suspected dealer, who is also a police informant, to sell cocaine as part of the 2012 drug operation gone wrong. The operation ended in Van Zyl’s informant being arrested. Although charges against the informant were later withdrawn, Van Zyl’s involvement and conduct is still the subject of internal police investigations.
The one case pertain to allegations that Van Zyl has been giving informants loans and recouped his money by allegedly inflating their claims from the police informants’ fund.
Once the inflated figure is paid out, he would allegedly take his loan amount and pay the infor shy;mant the remaining amount.
Another addition to investigations into Namibia’s most senior drug law enforcement officer are allegations that Van Zyl involved his family and friends in police narcotics investigations.
Police sources told The Namibian that his wife and relatives are known to participate in police narcotics work, including being present at drug busts and handling confiscated exhibits.
‘The investigations are continuing, and we have appointed someone to conduct them. They are just not concluded yet,’ Ndeitunga said, adding that the police do not have concrete evidence against Van Zyl, but that his office will not downplay the allegations levelled against the senior police officer.
Ndeitunga also called on those with evidence to come forward to help the investigations, adding that once the investigations are completed, he will make a decision that will restore the police’s image and trust in the eyes of the public.
The Namibian also reported that the situation at the drug law enforcement division has led to the near disbandment of the division last year, with only Van Zyl and a handful of officers remaining. This followed allegations of turf wars and corruption within the unit.
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