A pensioner accused of shooting an Anti-Corruption Commission police officer told the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that he pulled out his firearm because he was afraid of being taken into police custody.
Sageus Katoteli (61), who is seeking bail, said he had never been arrested before and became frightened after Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigator Thomas Shangula allegedly told him he was going to be arrested.
“It was my first time being told I was being arrested. I was afraid because I’ve heard from those who have been in custody that being there is bad. You’re taken away from people and you don’t see anything,” he told the court.
Katoteli is accused of shooting sergeant Eliaser at the ACC offices at Oshakati on 8 May, allegedly when he was about to be arrested.
However, testifying in his bail application, Katoteli claimed he did not intend to shoot the officer.
“I wanted to shoot myself in the chest,” he said.
He said on that day, he had been summoned to the ACC offices by Shangula to answer questions about a vehicle he had hired and driven to Windhoek in 2024.
Katoteli said he was informed the car had been stolen.
“Mr Shangula asked if I could still remember the case of the stolen car. Then he said he was going to arrest me,” he said.
According to Katoteli, Shangula then called Eliaser into his office.
He (Katoteli) said he and Eliaser later left Shangula’s office and were walking towards Eliaser’s office when he took out his firearm and pointed it at his own chest.
“While we were about to enter Eliaser’s office, I took out my firearm and pointed it at my chest. Eliaser then ran quickly and grabbed it from me. He threw me to the ground,” Katoteli testified.
He said two shots were fired during the ensuing struggle over the firearm, with one striking Eliaser.
“While we were wrestling over the firearm, two bullets went off and one hit Eliaser in his stomach and thigh,” he said.
Katoteli claimed the shooting was accidental.
“I did not want to kill or shoot Eliaser. I wanted to shoot myself,” he told the court.
He said the suicidal thoughts were limited to the day of the incident and that he no longer intended to harm himself.
“That was just something that came into my mind that day. I no longer want to kill myself as I also attended to a social worker,” he said.
Katoteli told the court he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure and wants to be released so that he can take care of his minor children and family.
He also owns a cellphone repair shop in Ongwediva, which he said has suffered financially since his arrest.
The state is opposing bail.
Public prosecutor Kleopas Imalwa argued that the seriousness of the charges and Katoteli’s previous suicidal thoughts weighed against his release.
Katoteli is represented by lawyer Slogan Mateus, while magistrate Nelao ya France is presiding over the bail application.
The matter continues at the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
