I am fine, says Shaduka

MURDER convict Lazarus Shaduka, who was in a jovial mood yesterday when the police took him to the Windhoek Central Hospital for a medical check-up, told The Namibian that he was fine.

Shaduka handed himself over to the Namibian consulate at Ondjiva in Angola on Monday after spending about four years on the run following the Supreme Court’s ruling that he should serve 20 years in prison for the murder of his wife Selma Shaimemanya in 2008.

Oshikango detective chief inspector Erastus Kamati and Ohangwena police commissioner Tylves Kapolo picked up Shaduka from Angola on Monday, and kept him at Oshikango for the night.

He was flown from Oshikango to Windhoek in a police helicopter yesterday morning, and met at the Eros Airport by a high- profile police contingent which took him straight to the Windhoek Correctional Facility where he was booked in.

Later, police took him for a medical check-up to the Windhoek Central Hospital, where The Namibian met him. He was clad in a pair of casual blue jeans, blazer and a blue cap.

While they waited for his X-rays to be taken, a number of police detectives and prison wardens stood nervously at the door before escorting him to the waiting police van outside the casualty department.

Shaduka, who was accompanied by about 10 police officers and prison wardens, smiled at curious onlookers at the hospital, while holding his head high.

When he left the hospital, Shaduka shielded his face by holding-up his cuffed hands, in quiet protest against being photographed.

Apart from a few strands of grey hair, the 43-year-old’s chubby physical appearance has not changed much. When asked how he was holding on, he said he was doing very fine.

Shaduka is one of the few criminals to be flown in a police helicopter, although law enforcement officers were quick to point out that this should not be seen as a special privilege or royal treatment extended to him.

“We only wanted to speed up the time he would be travelling between Oshikango and Windhoek. We did not want to take any chances on the road,” said Khomas regional police crime investigations coordinator deputy commissioner Silvanus Nghishidimbwa yesterday.

According to Nghishidimbwa, it is normal procedure that every convict has to undergo a medical check-up before being booked into the Windhoek Correctional Facility, so Shaduka’s check-up was not exceptional.

Nghishidimbwa, who was tasked with picking him up from the airport, said the convict landed at 12h20 under the escort of two detectives.

“We shook hands. I asked him how he was doing, and he replied that he was doing fine,” said Nghishidimbwa, adding that Shaduka appears to have been taking care of himself.

He also said Shaduka looked exactly the way he was the last time he saw him.

“He did not say another word all the way to the prison,” said Nghishidimbwa.

He wished, though, that Shaduka had told him how he escaped and managed to survive for four years.

“That is a story he will tell us when he is settled and calm. For now, I think we should give him some space and let him be,” said Nghishidimbwa.

Shaduka will remain at the Windhoek Correctional Facility to start his 20-year prison term. “He was already convicted, so he starts serving his term immediately,” he said.

Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe said Shaduka will not be expected to appear in court for escaping as he was not in police custody at the time.

“He would have been charged only if he had escaped from prison, or if he was in police custody. The fact that the police could not find him for four years is not a criminal offence, so he just has to start serving his [20-year] prison term,” he explained.

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