Police concerned with high levels of young offenders

Deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi raises concern over the high number of crimes committed by young people in the Khomas, Kavango East and Omaheke regions, saying young people are terrorising communities in those areas.

This happened when a parent reached out to The Namibian after their minor son was arrested on 12 April at Epako.

“At Epako, in particular, the robbery cases have escalated. There is almost daily activity, and in most cases, juveniles and minors are the accused persons,” she says.

According to Shikwambi, the courts have experienced parents failing to take custody after minors are released on parental care, leaving them in the care of the police and once released, they end up on the street only to reoffend, continuing the cycle.

She reiterates the Namibian Police’s mission to uphold the law and states that the law makes provision for placing an accused minor in the custody of a parent or guardian.

Shikwambi says the 14-year-old arrested at Epako on 12 April when he was reported to have committed a robbery together with another minor, was charged on 15 April, and taken to court on 16 April.

“However, the court remanded him in custody,” she says.

Shikwambi says the minor re-appeared at Gobabis Magistrates’ Court for bail consideration and was released on parental care with a condition to report at Epako Police Station every Wednesday.

She says under the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, a juvenile accused may be released from custody and given a warning “to appear before a specified court at a specified time on a specified date in connection with such offence or as the case may be, to remain in attendance at the proceedings relating to the offence in question”.

Justin Campell, the father of the arrested minor, says the complainant in a seperate robbery pointed out his son as one of eight boys who robbed him.

He says only six of the suspects were charged and there are some delays in the appearance of his son in court.

The minor was in custody with two other juveniles and four other accused, namely Romanus Mujari (20), Obed Mijari (27), Andries Dawid (20) and Samuel Hawariseb (21).