NDF Captain in court for kidnapping, assault

A Namibia Defence Force Captain Tobias Nujoma accused of kidnapping and assaulting a farmer in the Kavango Region last month, appeared in the Kahenge Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Two of his three co-accused – Raphael Sikarepo and Jonas Nakashe – also appeared before Magistrate Francis Mukasa. It is the Captain’s second court appearance in connection with the crime.The first appearance was at Rundu on May 31.The court heard that the other suspect, Nghikwala Shikongo, could not appear yesterday.He is allegedly being held in custody at Tsumeb for another case.The case was postponed for further Police investigations and the trio were told to return to court on September 28.According to the victim, Ambrosius Haimbili, Nujoma kidnapped him from his farm in the Etenderera 3 area after accusing him of stealing his cattle.For three days, Haimbili was allegedly driven several hundred kilometres across the region in search of the stolen cattle and was allegedly tortured by Nujoma and his cronies.At one point he was even allegedly held captive at the Rundu Military Base, where Nujoma is based, and tortured through the night.Haimbili said the four doused him with petrol, threatened him with death and made him lie in shallow graves while he was held hostage.He was eventually rescued by his brother Bartholomeus Muntenda who found him at a tribal court where Nujoma tried to seek compensation for his stolen cattle.Nujoma also faces a charge of stock theft, after going to the victim’s farm and taking 17 cattle after a tribal court found that Haimbili could not be held responsible for his alleged losses.It is the Captain’s second court appearance in connection with the crime.The first appearance was at Rundu on May 31.The court heard that the other suspect, Nghikwala Shikongo, could not appear yesterday.He is allegedly being held in custody at Tsumeb for another case.The case was postponed for further Police investigations and the trio were told to return to court on September 28.According to the victim, Ambrosius Haimbili, Nujoma kidnapped him from his farm in the Etenderera 3 area after accusing him of stealing his cattle.For three days, Haimbili was allegedly driven several hundred kilometres across the region in search of the stolen cattle and was allegedly tortured by Nujoma and his cronies.At one point he was even allegedly held captive at the Rundu Military Base, where Nujoma is based, and tortured through the night.Haimbili said the four doused him with petrol, threatened him with death and made him lie in shallow graves while he was held hostage.He was eventually rescued by his brother Bartholomeus Muntenda who found him at a tribal court where Nujoma tried to seek compensation for his stolen cattle.Nujoma also faces a charge of stock theft, after going to the victim’s farm and taking 17 cattle after a tribal court found that Haimbili could not be held responsible for his alleged losses.