Police officer up on drunken driving charges

A SENIOR officer in the Windhoek City Police is facing three criminal charges – including a count of drunken driving – after making a first court appearance on Friday following a late-night car accident in the city earlier in the week.

Natanael Nendongo (45), the City Police’s Deputy Chief in charge of its crime prevention unit, was arrested in Windhoek close to midnight on Wednesday evening last week, after a car allegedly driven by him had been involved in a collision with another vehicle in the city’s Rehobother Road.Nendongo is alleged to have left the scene of the accident by driving away, but was later found and arrested after a breathalyser test had been done on him.Nendongo appeared before Magistrate John Sindano in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday.He is charged with counts of driving with an excessive breath-alcohol level, reckless or negligent driving, and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.With Nendongo’s first court appearance, Public Prosecutor Helena Iipinge asked the Magistrate to postpone the case to January 29 for further investigation.Nendongo, who was represented by defence lawyer Petrus Elago, remains free on bail until his next scheduled court appearance. He was granted Police bail of N$3 000 after his arrest.