The Kandara death: What NamPol said on Thursday

ON Thursday evening, the Namibian Police issued a statement, signed by its Inspector General, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, to give the Police’s version of events that led to the gunshot death of Lazarus Kandara in front of the Windhoek Police Station late on Wednesday evening.

According to the statement, it “is clearly evident” that the cause of death was suicide, while “the only assumption” that could be made was that the firearm with which Kandara is claimed to have shot himself, had come into his possession together with a blanket that his wife handed him at their house earlier that evening. The circumstances around the incident remain under investigation by the Police’s Complaints and Discipline Unit, it was also stated.This is the statement in full: 1.On the 24th of August 2005 at about 18H00 Mr Lazarus Kandara was arrested at the High Court for alleged Fraud and Theft.The arrest was in connection with the SSC funds of N$30 million that was transferred into AVID’s account for the purpose of investment.This arrest was done on the basis of Warrant of Arrest issued by a competent Magistrate.2.At about 18H20 Mr.Kandara was taken to the Serious Crime office, after his lawyers, requested to consult their client.His lawyers’ request was granted and they consulted with him for almost two hours.They further requested that their client be taken to his residence to collect medicine, toiletries and a blanket.Mr Kandara was reportedly suffering from high blood pressure and some type of cancer.NamPol was informed that the deceased was under medical treatment and using prescription drugs (medicine).3.The deceased (Mr.Kandara) was then escorted by members of the Serious Crime Unit to his residence, at No.16 Falken Street, Hochlandpark for the purposes mentioned above.The members first went to Advocate Hinda’s house which is in the same suburb with that of the deceased to collect a mattress.There the accused made three calls to three different people namely, his brother in South Africa, his sister in Otjiwarongo and to his kids in Swakopmund.The conversation was in Damara/Nama language, but was in the presence of the Constable who is conversant with the language.Nothing strange emanated from the conversation except the remarks he made that Niko Josia put him in problems.He also enquired from Adv.Hinda the possibility of bail for which he was advised accordingly.4.At his residence his wife prepared his toiletries bag, one blanket, one pillow and a few clothes.All these items were searched by the Police escort and his medicine/tablets were retained by the escort.Every moment at his residence was done under the watchful eyes of the escort.The members deny that they ate dinner at Mr.Kandara’s house as per media report and that this can be confirmed by two other people whom they found in the house with his wife.5.It surfaced that while they (escort) were leaving the house, his wife accompanied them out of the house courtyard, and he requested his wife to give him another extra blanket from his house, which his wife went to fetch.There was no specific instruction given as to which blanket should be brought by his wife.Once the blanket was brought Mr.Kandara received it and got in the vehicle.He was driven to the Police station.The escort stopped the vehicle in front of the Police station and all of them got out.The deceased was moving in between the three officer’s one in front and two behind.6.The deceased, who at that stage was carrying a pillow, toiletries as well as an extra blanket on his person, asked to be taken to the toilet, and was told there was a toilet inside the cells.It was in that moment that the deceased pulled out a pistol from underneath the blanket he was carrying, and pointed it at the members.Two officers ran to take cover while the one who was being pointed at was pleading with the deceased not to shoot.Eventually the deceased pointed the fire-arm to his own chest and discharged a shot and he fell.He tried to again reach for the pistol but it was kicked away by an escort member.The medics were summoned to the scene and medical attention was given to him, but proved futile, and he died.7.The Crime Officer and other senior officers were summoned to the scene as well as Complaints and Discipline Unit.The scene was investigated and the following determined: a) A 9mm Baretta pistol was found at the scene, the pistol was confiscated and inspected and does not belong to any of the members.The ownership will be determined, but from the information obtained, it is likely to be the deceased’s.b) A spent cartridge was found jammed in the chamber of the used pistol.This inspection was conducted in the presence of the Deputy Regional Commander.c) A gun powder residual test was done by the Scene of Crime Unit on the deceased – the same exercise was done on the members concerned, for transparency.8.Information at our disposal shows that all items were properly searched before it was let in the deceased’s possession, and that the escort carried some of the items in assistance, in exception of the last extra blanket that was brought in by his wife.9.From the facts obtained, the only assumption that can be made is that the fire-arm could have been hidden in the extra blanket that was brought by his wife, (whilst the deceased and the escort were waiting outside his residence at the vehicle), and that was the very blanket the deceased was carrying on arrival at the Police station.10.It is clearly evident that the cause of death was on the part of the deceased and not an act caused by NamPol members, the Unit Commander of the Windhoek Complaints and Discipline Unit is nevertheless under instructions to investigate the circumstances around this issue and to present his findings to the Office of the Inspector General of Police.11.From what was so far collected, it is evident that the cause of death is a suicide on the part of the deceased himself.Inquest 33/05 was registered and is being investigated by the Complaints and Discipline Unit.The circumstances around the incident remain under investigation by the Police’s Complaints and Discipline Unit, it was also stated.This is the statement in full: 1.On the 24th of August 2005 at about 18H00 Mr Lazarus Kandara was arrested at the High Court for alleged Fraud and Theft.The arrest was in connection with the SSC funds of N$30 million that was transferred into AVID’s account for the purpose of investment.This arrest was done on the basis of Warrant of Arrest issued by a competent Magistrate.2.At about 18H20 Mr.Kandara was taken to the Serious Crime office, after his lawyers, requested to consult their client.His lawyers’ request was granted and they consulted with him for almost two hours.They further requested that their client be taken to his residence to collect medicine, toiletries and a blanket.Mr Kandara was reportedly suffering from high blood pressure and some type of cancer.NamPol was informed that the deceased was under medical treatment and using prescription drugs (medicine).3.The deceased (Mr.Kandara) was then escorted by members of the Serious Crime Unit to his residence, at No.16 Falken Street, Hochlandpark for the purposes mentioned above.The members first went to Advocate Hinda’s house which is in the same suburb with that of the deceased to collect a mattress.There the accused made three calls to three different people namely, his brother in South Africa, his sister in Otjiwarongo and to his kids in Swakopmund.The conversation was in Damara/Nama language, but was in the presence of the Constable who is conversant with the language.Nothing strange emanated from the conversation except the remarks he made that Niko Josia put him in problems.He also enquired from Adv.Hinda the possibility of bail for which he was advised accordingly.4.At his residence his wife prepared his toiletries bag, one blanket, one pillow and a few clothes.All these items were searched by the Police escort and his medicine/tablets were retained by the escort.Every moment at his residence was done under the watchful eyes of the escort.The members deny that they ate dinner at Mr.Kandara’s house as per media report and that this can be confirmed by two other people whom they found in the house with his wife.5.It surfaced that while they (escort) were leaving the house, his wife accompanied them out of the house courtyard, and he requested his wife to give him another extra blanket from his house, which his wife went to fetch.There was no specific instruction given as to which blanket should be brought by his wife.Once the blanket was brought Mr.Kandara received it and got in the vehicle.He was driven to the Police station.The escort stopped the vehicle in front of the Police station and all of them got out.The deceased was moving in between the three officer’s one in front and two behind.6.The deceased, who at that stage was carrying a pillow, toiletries as well as an extra blanket on his person, asked to be taken to the toilet, and was told there was a toilet inside the cells.It was in that moment that the deceased pulled out a pistol from underneath the blanket he was carrying, and pointed it at the members.Two officers ran to take cover while the one who was being pointed at was pleading with the deceased not to shoot.Eventually the deceased pointed the fire-arm to his own chest and discharged a shot and he fell.He tried to again reach for the pistol but it was kicked away by an escort member.The medics were summoned to the scene and medical attention was given to him, but proved futile, and he died.7.The Crime Officer and other senior officers were summoned to the scene as well as Complaints and Discipline Unit.The scene was investigated and the following determined: a) A 9mm Baretta pistol was found at the scene, the pistol was confiscated and inspected and does not belong to any of the members.The ownership will be determined, but from the information obtained, it is likely to be the deceased’s.b) A spent cartridge was found jammed in the chamber of the used pistol.This inspection was conducted in the presence of the Deputy Regional Commander.c) A gun powder residual test was done by the Scene of Crime Unit on the deceased – the same exercise was done on the members concerned, for transparency.8.Information at our disposal shows that all items were properly searched before it was let in the deceased’s possession, and that the escort carried some of the items in assistance, in exception of the last extra blanket that was brought in by his wife.9.From the facts obtained, the only assumption that can be made is that the fire-arm could have been hidden in the extra blanket that was brought by his wife, (whilst the deceased and the escort were waiting outside his residence at the vehicle), and that was the very blanket the deceased was carrying on arrival at the Police station.10.It is clearly evident that the cause of death was on the part of the deceased and not an act caused by NamPol members, the Unit Commander of the Windhoek Complaints and Discipline Unit is nevertheless under instructions to investigate the circumstances around this issue and to present his findings to the Office of the Inspector General of Police.11.From what was so far collected, it is evident that the cause of death is a suicide on the part of the deceased himself.Inquest 33/05 was registered and is being investigated by the Complaints and Discipline Unit.