Police barracks gutted by fire

THE Police barracks at the southern border town of Noordoewer were gutted by fire on Tuesday night, Karas Regional Commander, Josephat Abel confirmed to The Namibian.

Abel said the fire was believed to have started in the kitchen where three Police officers housed at the barracks were asleep. The cause of the fire is not known and Police are investigating the possibility of arson.The fire destroyed the Police officers’ personal belongings and Government property.Three Police dockets in possession of the officers at the time of the fire were also destroyed.No life threatening injuries were reported.* Meanwhile, Martha Abrahams (23) has made a brief appearance in the Luederitz Magistrate’s Court on charges of arson and attempted murder.The suspect was not asked to plead and the case was postponed until July 31.No bail was granted.The damage caused by the fire was estimated at N$ 20 000.Abel told The Namibian that the suspect is accused of setting fire to a house belonging to her mother, Ester Abrahams (56), in the Police Camp residential area on Sunday a week ago.The incident was allegedly preceded by a quarrel between mother and daughter.It is also alleged that the suspect wanted to set her mother on fire after pouring paraffin on her.However, the mother managed to escape before being set on fire and alerted the fire brigade, which extinguished the flames before the entire house was gutted.Both the mother and suspect were admitted to the Luederitz hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.The suspect and Abrahams senior have since been released from the hospital.Abel said the suspect also allegedly attempted to commit suicide while in hospital apparently by drinking toxic liquid, but failed.The cause of the fire is not known and Police are investigating the possibility of arson.The fire destroyed the Police officers’ personal belongings and Government property.Three Police dockets in possession of the officers at the time of the fire were also destroyed.No life threatening injuries were reported.* Meanwhile, Martha Abrahams (23) has made a brief appearance in the Luederitz Magistrate’s Court on charges of arson and attempted murder.The suspect was not asked to plead and the case was postponed until July 31.No bail was granted.The damage caused by the fire was estimated at N$ 20 000.Abel told The Namibian that the suspect is accused of setting fire to a house belonging to her mother, Ester Abrahams (56), in the Police Camp residential area on Sunday a week ago.The incident was allegedly preceded by a quarrel between mother and daughter.It is also alleged that the suspect wanted to set her mother on fire after pouring paraffin on her.However, the mother managed to escape before being set on fire and alerted the fire brigade, which extinguished the flames before the entire house was gutted.Both the mother and suspect were admitted to the Luederitz hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.The suspect and Abrahams senior have since been released from the hospital.Abel said the suspect also allegedly attempted to commit suicide while in hospital apparently by drinking toxic liquid, but failed.