Interpol nabs two more fugitives

TWO Namibians accused of having been involved in one of the biggest cash-in-transit heists at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg close to five years ago are behind bars.

The two, Tileinge Nghaamwa and a man identified only by the alias ‘Kaptein’, have been on the run from Interpol since 2006.’Kaptein’ skipped bail after appearing in a South African court, while Nghaamwa was never arrested in South Africa.According to the head of Interpol’s national central bureau, Chief Inspector Immanuel Sam, the men are suspected to have been part of a gang who robbed more than N$60 million at the Johannesburg airport.Nghaamwa was arrested at Oshakati last Monday, while ‘Kaptein’ was nabbed late on Thursday at Opuwo.Sam said Interpol had been hot on the two men’s trail since last year. ‘It was a joint investigation between Namibia and South Africa. This is a big, big case in South Africa.’The alleged robbers made a joint appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Friday.Nghaamwa indicated earlier that – as is required during an extradition matter – he wants the Namibian authorities to conduct a preliminary enquiry into whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute him and that he indeed matches the identity of the wanted fugitive.An application for legal aid by Nghaamwa is pending. His case was postponed until Tuesday, February 15.Although ‘Kaptein’ also initially applied for legal aid on Friday, he told the court that he does ‘not want to waste time’ and wants to be transferred to South Africa ‘to finalise this matter’.Seeing that he did not waive this right to an enquiry in writing, he will probably have to testify under oath today about wanting to be extradited immediately. Speaking through an interpreter on Friday, he said: ‘I want to be tried where I was tried first and that is also where the case will be finalised – in Johannesburg.’These arrests came less barely two weeks after a right-wing fugitive, Louis George Rademeyer, was arrested on New Year’s Eve at the Namibian coast.Rademeyer, wanted for culpable homicide and public violence, had also been on the run from South African authorities since 2006.He is suspected to have fled to the United States. He re-entered South Africa through Cape Town in early December 2010 and then came for a coastal Namibian holiday with his family.Interpol closed in on him while they were camping at Cape Cross.Pending his extradition hearing, he is expected to make another court appearance on Monday, January 31.He is being detained at the Windhoek Central Prison.