Epacha robbery: four of five suspects caught

THE fourth suspect in the housebreaking case at Epacha Lodge near Outjo has been arrested.Police reported yesterday that Eliphas Mashuna, also known as Eliphas Kakiya, handed himself over to the Police in Windhoek yesterday morning.

Mashuna is suspected to have been the driver of the getaway vehicle used in the robbery on November 22. Valuables worth around N$250 000, including travel documents and foreign currency, were stolen from foreign tourists.The car was found overturned near Kamanjab after Mashuna had allegedly dropped off his accomplices next to the road to go and fix a flat tyre at the town.According to one of his co-accused, Mashuna did not return, and phoned them later to say that he had overturned the car, and that Police were in the area.The next day he apparently reported to the Police station in Windhoek, telling an officer there that he had lent his car to a friend, who had then been involved in an accident with it.The officer then phoned the Police at Kamanjab, who confirmed the accident, and Mashuna left the station.According to a source, Mashuna overturned the car while fleeing from Police at a Kamanjab service station.Last week, Leading Lodges of Africa CEO Werner Beddies offered a reward of N$10 000 to anyone with information that would lead to Mashuna’s arrest.The private investigator assigned to the case by the lodge owners, former Police Chief Inspector Neels Becker, said yesterday that he could not yet confirm that Mashuna had handed himself over willingly, as he still had to get in contact with the Police.According to testimony by one of the suspects, one of the men responsible is still on the loose.He is believed to be a former Epacha Lodge employee, and was described as slightly built and middle aged, although appearing younger.Valuables worth around N$250 000, including travel documents and foreign currency, were stolen from foreign tourists.The car was found overturned near Kamanjab after Mashuna had allegedly dropped off his accomplices next to the road to go and fix a flat tyre at the town.According to one of his co-accused, Mashuna did not return, and phoned them later to say that he had overturned the car, and that Police were in the area.The next day he apparently reported to the Police station in Windhoek, telling an officer there that he had lent his car to a friend, who had then been involved in an accident with it.The officer then phoned the Police at Kamanjab, who confirmed the accident, and Mashuna left the station.According to a source, Mashuna overturned the car while fleeing from Police at a Kamanjab service station.Last week, Leading Lodges of Africa CEO Werner Beddies offered a reward of N$10 000 to anyone with information that would lead to Mashuna’s arrest. The private investigator assigned to the case by the lodge owners, former Police Chief Inspector Neels Becker, said yesterday that he could not yet confirm that Mashuna had handed himself over willingly, as he still had to get in contact with the Police.According to testimony by one of the suspects, one of the men responsible is still on the loose.He is believed to be a former Epacha Lodge employee, and was described as slightly built and middle aged, although appearing younger.