Munyama arrested ‘quietly’, granted bail

FORMER Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Director General Gerry Munyama was quietly arrested yesterday morning, and by the afternoon he was out on bail.

Police Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu confirmed to The Namibian yesterday that Munyama had been arrested, and that he had appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court immediately afterwards. Munyama appeared on charges of fraud, or alternatively forgery and uttering.He paid bail of N$20 000, and his case has been postponed until March 29 next year.It could not be established yesterday what Munyama’s bail conditions are, and whether he will be able to leave the country until his case resumes next year.Police Chief Inspector Hieronymus Goraseb said yesterday that the Police investigation into Munyama’s case had been completed, and thus they had no reason to keep him from appearing in court.Up until late on Monday the Police continued to deny knowledge of a pending arrest.They said the investigation had not yet been completed, despite The Namibian learning that the investigation had been wrapped up on Wednesday last week already.The Namibian also has it on good authority that Munyama evaded arrest on three occasions.Police apparently wanted to arrest him on Wednesday evening, but this did not happen because of a misunderstanding about his resignation from the NBC.On the second occasion, Munyama was supposed to be arrested on Friday morning, but Police did not find him at home.He was apparently in the North spending time with his family.Munyama reportedly contacted the Police over the weekend, saying that he would hand himself over on Monday morning at 08h00.This also did not happen, and his eventual arrest only happened yesterday.Munyama resigned from the NBC on Friday after being suspended on November 15.He faces a criminal charge, as well as a civil claim by the NBC, which wants to retrieve more than N$400 000.Munyama allegedly owes the NBC around N$70 000 in exceeded entertainment allowances, and allegedly diverted N$345 996 of the broadcaster’s money to the fraudulently opened Executive Account, for which he had sole signing powers.Munyama appeared on charges of fraud, or alternatively forgery and uttering.He paid bail of N$20 000, and his case has been postponed until March 29 next year.It could not be established yesterday what Munyama’s bail conditions are, and whether he will be able to leave the country until his case resumes next year.Police Chief Inspector Hieronymus Goraseb said yesterday that the Police investigation into Munyama’s case had been completed, and thus they had no reason to keep him from appearing in court. Up until late on Monday the Police continued to deny knowledge of a pending arrest.They said the investigation had not yet been completed, despite The Namibian learning that the investigation had been wrapped up on Wednesday last week already.The Namibian also has it on good authority that Munyama evaded arrest on three occasions.Police apparently wanted to arrest him on Wednesday evening, but this did not happen because of a misunderstanding about his resignation from the NBC.On the second occasion, Munyama was supposed to be arrested on Friday morning, but Police did not find him at home.He was apparently in the North spending time with his family.Munyama reportedly contacted the Police over the weekend, saying that he would hand himself over on Monday morning at 08h00.This also did not happen, and his eventual arrest only happened yesterday.Munyama resigned from the NBC on Friday after being suspended on November 15.He faces a criminal charge, as well as a civil claim by the NBC, which wants to retrieve more than N$400 000.Munyama allegedly owes the NBC around N$70 000 in exceeded entertainment allowances, and allegedly diverted N$345 996 of the broadcaster’s money to the fraudulently opened Executive Account, for which he had sole signing powers.