Questions surround Mogane ‘hijacking’

A LACK of co-operation from Namibian sports personality Rusten Mogane is hampering Police investigations into an alleged kidnapping and extortion case reported by him earlier this week.

At the same time, the identity of a young woman who was in the car with him – initially said to be his daughter – has also been called into question.By the time of going to press yesterday, Police were contemplating releasing the only suspect arrested in the matter, as Mogane had failed throughout the day to go and give a sworn statement on what had happened on Tuesday afternoon.Without any formal charges laid, the Police say it would be unlawful for them to hold the suspect for longer than 48 hours.The suspect was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. According to information received independently and confirmed by a number of Police sources, Mogane, Chief Administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission, entered the Katutura branch of Bank Windhoek on Tuesday morning, asking staff to call the Police.He reportedly said that he had been hijacked on the road between Windhoek and the Döbra High School at Brakwater while on his way to drop off his daughter at the school.Police were told that the suspects, initially believed to be four, pulled the girl out of Mogane’s car and held her hostage while one of the men drove him back to Windhoek to collect the ransom.Police heeded the call, and the suspect travelling with Mogane was arrested.A watch and cellphone belonging to Mogane were found in possession of the suspect, the Police confirmed yesterday.However, question marks have now arisen over the identity of the girl who accompanied Mogane.Yesterday sources reported that he was denying that there was anybody else in his car.When he spoke to The Namibian late on Tuesday afternoon, Mogane abruptly denied there was another victim.He declined further comment, asking The Namibian to wait for the Police investigation to be completed.Mogane could not be reached on his cellphone yesterday.Police confirmed yesterday that the information reported by The Namibian yesterday was in line with what Mogane had told them when he called for assistance.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Teofelus Willem said yesterday that investigating officers were waiting for Mogane throughout the day to press charges against the men he claimed had tried to extort him on Tuesday.’At this point, the matter remains under Police investigation. But the suspect is entitled to appear before court within 48 hours. If the complainant doesn’t show, the Police will have to let the suspect go until he does,’ Willem said.The number of suspects being sought in the case dropped to two yesterday, rather than four, and one of the alleged suspects remains free. Initial information was that three suspects had been arrested.denver@namibian.com.na