No progress on stolen ECN computers

NO progress has been made in an investigation into the theft of computers from the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

Police Deputy Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa said late last year that the case was being treated as a priority. A team of investigators was put together to get to the bottom of the case but to no avail. Nghishidimbwa on Monday told The Namibian that the investigation was continuing. The ECN is also conducting its own internal investigation, which has not yet been completed, according to Director of Elections Moses Ndjarakana. He said no suspension or any action will be taken before the investigations are completed.The 42 new laptop computers, valued at more than N$228 000, disappeared from the ECN head office on the eve of last year’s regional and local authority elections. There had been no forced entry into the room where the computers were being stored on the second floor of the new ECN head office and only ECN information technology (IT) staff had access to the storeroom.Dispelling fears that the stolen computers might contain election data, the ECN said they were brand new and bought as back-up stock, since the ECN already had laptops going to polling stations.