Men accused of robbing Keetmanshoop resident remanded in custody

The five men who were arrested and charged with robbery and impersonating a police officer were remanded in custody on Monday when they made their first court appearance in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court.
The accused persons made their appearance before magistrate Uchen Konjore who postponed their case to 10 January next year, for further police investigation and for the accused persons to acquire legal representation.
The accused are 36-year-old Berthold Upindi, Ernest Katjire, 45, Alberto Bohitile, 40, Ryan Gariseb, 34, and 40-year-old Harrison Okezie.

During court proceedings on Monday Upindi indicated that he would seek legal aid while the other accused persons said they would seek representation from private lawyers.
Konjore advised the accused persons to bring a formal bail application if they wished to be released on bail and the State was represented by Rafael Fransiskus.

The men were remanded at the Keetmanshoop Police Station holding cells until their next court appearance.
Earlier Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator for ||Kharas, Deputy Commissioner Nikodemus Mbango told this news agency that it is alleged that the five men approached a male victim at his residence offering to sell stones. The complainant agreed to the purchase of a suspected fake diamond and he went to withdraw money from the bank. The incident happened on Friday around 12h00.

“During the transaction, it seems things did not go well resulting in the complainant submitting his money to an alleged police officer who pretended to have intervened to prevent illegal activity. The alleged suspects and police officers left the scene and the complainant later realised that it was a scam and alerted the police,” said Mbango.
Thereafter a manhunt was launched which led to the arrest of the accused persons in Mariental en route to Windhoek.

According to Mbango, one of the suspects is a police officer attached to the emergency rescue unit, Khomas Region, and he was found in possession of a service pistol, full police uniform and a bulletproof vest, while another suspect is a former police officer.

Police managed to recover N.dollars 6 000 out of the N.dollars 12 000 that was paid by the victim.

(NAMPA)
ST/PS/EK
(NAMPA)