Unam duo’s theft case in the balance

THE University of Namibia wants to withdraw a theft charge it laid against two senior staff members accused of stealing computer equipment from the Unam campus in Windhoek, the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court was informed yesterday.

Magistrate Valmary van Rooi was told this when Professor Geoffrey Kiangi, the former Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research at Unam, and Indian citizen Kaggere Suresh, the former Manager of the university’s computer centre, made their latest court appearance on a theft charge they have been facing since mid-March. Kiangi (49) and Suresh (42) were arrested on March 14 on a charge stemming from allegations that they had been spotted by a security guard on March 10 while removing 12 computers worth N$70 000 from the university premises.They were arrested and released on bail of N$7 000 each on the same day.At yesterday’s court appearance, Public Prosecutor Amizé Adams asked Magistrate Van Rooi to postpone the case to November 27 so that the Prosecutor General could decide whether or not to withdraw the charge against the two men.Defence lawyer Slysken Makando, who is representing both Kiangi and Suresh, said an agreement had been reached between the two accused men and Unam, and that the university had sent a letter to the Prosecutor General asking her to withdraw the case.No decision had been taken yet on that request, Makando added.The university did not want to comment on the issue later yesterday.The response from Edwin Tjiramba, Director: Communications and Marketing in the office of the Vice Chancellor, was that the matter had been heard by the University Council and that “since the case is now sub judice, the University is not able to comment in this regard”.The university announced in early August that Kiangi and Suresh had both faced internal disciplinary hearings at Unam.Suresh was found guilty of fraud, abuse of power and authority and unauthorised use of Unam property for private purposes.He was dismissed from his post at the university on July 14.Kiangi struck a deal with the university at his disciplinary hearing in early August, the university also announced.The result of this was that he resigned from his post.Kiangi and Suresh have to appear in court again on November 27.This would be the final postponement for the Prosecutor General’s decision, Magistrate Van Rooi said.Kiangi (49) and Suresh (42) were arrested on March 14 on a charge stemming from allegations that they had been spotted by a security guard on March 10 while removing 12 computers worth N$70 000 from the university premises.They were arrested and released on bail of N$7 000 each on the same day.At yesterday’s court appearance, Public Prosecutor Amizé Adams asked Magistrate Van Rooi to postpone the case to November 27 so that the Prosecutor General could decide whether or not to withdraw the charge against the two men.Defence lawyer Slysken Makando, who is representing both Kiangi and Suresh, said an agreement had been reached between the two accused men and Unam, and that the university had sent a letter to the Prosecutor General asking her to withdraw the case.No decision had been taken yet on that request, Makando added.The university did not want to comment on the issue later yesterday.The response from Edwin Tjiramba, Director: Communications and Marketing in the office of the Vice Chancellor, was that the matter had been heard by the University Council and that “since the case is now sub judice, the University is not able to comment in this regard”.The university announced in early August that Kiangi and Suresh had both faced internal disciplinary hearings at Unam.Suresh was found guilty of fraud, abuse of power and authority and unauthorised use of Unam property for private purposes.He was dismissed from his post at the university on July 14.Kiangi struck a deal with the university at his disciplinary hearing in early August, the university also announced.The result of this was that he resigned from his post.Kiangi and Suresh have to appear in court again on November 27.This would be the final postponement for the Prosecutor General’s decision, Magistrate Van Rooi said.