Tourist forced to pay ‘fine’ in euros

A DUTCH tourist had an unpleasant experience upon his arrival in Namibia – a taxi driver who collected him at the airport drove him to the Windhoek central Police station instead of to his hotel.

The tourist allegedly had made an insulting comment on the way from Hosea Kutako International Airport on Tuesday, the taxi driver informed the Police. The Police officer on duty apparently accused the tourist of having behaved badly towards the taxi driver.The Dutch tourist was then forced to pay a ‘spot fine’ of one hundred euros (N$1 000) otherwise he would be “thrown into jail”.The owner of the hotel where the tourist was staying spoke about the incident at a meeting on crime against tourists yesterday.The meeting in Windhoek was attended by representatives of the tourism industry, the Windhoek City Police and the Namibian Police.”After he paid the ‘spot fine’, the same taxi driver brought the tourist to our hotel, which is a bit strange after all that had happened,” the hotel owner told the meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Mayor Elaine Trepper and two town councillors.Chief Inspector Derek Brune of NamPol made it clear that spot fines were illegal in Namibia.”Any Police officer or traffic officer charging a spot fine has committed an offence,” Brune said.The 20 participants agreed to approach the relevant authorities to put up signboards at airports and border posts to inform visitors that law enforcement agencies demanding ‘spot fines’ did this illegally and that tourists should not fall for it.The Police officer on duty apparently accused the tourist of having behaved badly towards the taxi driver.The Dutch tourist was then forced to pay a ‘spot fine’ of one hundred euros (N$1 000) otherwise he would be “thrown into jail”. The owner of the hotel where the tourist was staying spoke about the incident at a meeting on crime against tourists yesterday.The meeting in Windhoek was attended by representatives of the tourism industry, the Windhoek City Police and the Namibian Police.”After he paid the ‘spot fine’, the same taxi driver brought the tourist to our hotel, which is a bit strange after all that had happened,” the hotel owner told the meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Mayor Elaine Trepper and two town councillors.Chief Inspector Derek Brune of NamPol made it clear that spot fines were illegal in Namibia.”Any Police officer or traffic officer charging a spot fine has committed an offence,” Brune said.The 20 participants agreed to approach the relevant authorities to put up signboards at airports and border posts to inform visitors that law enforcement agencies demanding ‘spot fines’ did this illegally and that tourists should not fall for it.