Top cop faces theft charge

THE Commanding Officer of the Police’s Special Branch yesterday found himself in the dock at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.

Chief Inspector Lotti Nelomba Uusiku is accused of stealing an unspecified sum of money from the Police. The Police are tight-lipped about the case, and the public relations division said yesterday that Uusiku had not yet been suspended.”The information we’ve got is quite sketchy,” Police spokesperson James Matengu told The Namibian.”What we can confirm is that, yes, he is facing charges of theft.There will be a suspension hearing, but it is not yet known when this will take place,” Matengu said.Last week, The Namibian reported that the Police were planning to suspend Uusiku and another high-ranking officer.However, reports of an investigation into the affairs of the two officers were denied – both by Police Chief Sebastian Ndeitunga and by the men themselves.Uusiku’s case was yesterday postponed until August 1 for further investigation and to allow him to acquire legal representation.He was granted bail of N$2 000.Before leaving the stand, Uusiku asked Magistrate Desmond Beukes to reduce his bail to N$1 800, saying that he was responsible for taking care of his extended family.His request was denied following an objection by prosecutor Hitjevi Tjiroze.”Your Honour, this is no ordinary theft and borders on corruption, as the court will hear,” Tjiroze said.He described the crime Uusiku is accused of as “quite serious”.He also objected to the request on the grounds that Uusiku had said that he would pay for his own legal representation.Last week, well-placed sources told The Namibian that Uusiku and another officer were suspected of being responsible for the alleged disappearance of informants’ claims and S&T money.The Police public relations division said yesterday that they did not have any information on whether the second officer had also been charged in the same case as Uusiku.The officer denied all allegations against him when contacted yesterday.The Police are tight-lipped about the case, and the public relations division said yesterday that Uusiku had not yet been suspended.”The information we’ve got is quite sketchy,” Police spokesperson James Matengu told The Namibian.”What we can confirm is that, yes, he is facing charges of theft.There will be a suspension hearing, but it is not yet known when this will take place,” Matengu said.Last week, The Namibian reported that the Police were planning to suspend Uusiku and another high-ranking officer.However, reports of an investigation into the affairs of the two officers were denied – both by Police Chief Sebastian Ndeitunga and by the men themselves. Uusiku’s case was yesterday postponed until August 1 for further investigation and to allow him to acquire legal representation.He was granted bail of N$2 000.Before leaving the stand, Uusiku asked Magistrate Desmond Beukes to reduce his bail to N$1 800, saying that he was responsible for taking care of his extended family.His request was denied following an objection by prosecutor Hitjevi Tjiroze.”Your Honour, this is no ordinary theft and borders on corruption, as the court will hear,” Tjiroze said.He described the crime Uusiku is accused of as “quite serious”.He also objected to the request on the grounds that Uusiku had said that he would pay for his own legal representation.Last week, well-placed sources told The Namibian that Uusiku and another officer were suspected of being responsible for the alleged disappearance of informants’ claims and S&T money.The Police public relations division said yesterday that they did not have any information on whether the second officer had also been charged in the same case as Uusiku.The officer denied all allegations against him when contacted yesterday.