Top cops’ theft trial set for July

TWO of the Namibian Police’s most senior officers, Commissioners Lotti Uusiku and Joseph Kamati, made a first appearance in the Windhoek Regional Court on charges of theft on Friday.

The two men appeared before Magistrate Gert Retief to be informed of the date that their trial is set to start in the Regional Court. That will be on July 17, they were told.They remain free on bail of N$2 000 each in the meantime.Uusiku (48), who has been suspended from his post as the head of the Police’s Special Branch, and Kamati (59), who is suspended from his position as the head of the Police’s Finance Division, made first appearances in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on a charge of theft in March last year.They were eventually suspended from their posts in June.At their last appearance in the Magistrate’s Court last month, they were informed that the Prosecutor General has given instructions that they should face charges of theft in the Regional Court.Uusiku will be facing four charges.Kamati is facing three.The charges relate to alleged thefts that were committed between August 2005 and March last year.In the first charge, which Uusiku alone is facing, it is alleged that he stole N$12 000 from the Police.On the other three counts, which the two officers face jointly, it is alleged that they stole amounts of N$500, N$700 and N$600 respectively.It was previously reported that the two men were suspected of having stolen money out of subsistence and travel allowances (S&T), informers’ rewards and bail money that is claimed to have been under their control.That will be on July 17, they were told.They remain free on bail of N$2 000 each in the meantime.Uusiku (48), who has been suspended from his post as the head of the Police’s Special Branch, and Kamati (59), who is suspended from his position as the head of the Police’s Finance Division, made first appearances in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on a charge of theft in March last year.They were eventually suspended from their posts in June.At their last appearance in the Magistrate’s Court last month, they were informed that the Prosecutor General has given instructions that they should face charges of theft in the Regional Court.Uusiku will be facing four charges.Kamati is facing three.The charges relate to alleged thefts that were committed between August 2005 and March last year.In the first charge, which Uusiku alone is facing, it is alleged that he stole N$12 000 from the Police.On the other three counts, which the two officers face jointly, it is alleged that they stole amounts of N$500, N$700 and N$600 respectively.It was previously reported that the two men were suspected of having stolen money out of subsistence and travel allowances (S&T), informers’ rewards and bail money that is claimed to have been under their control.