Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kelvin Chiringa
Published on 2024-03-05 17:00:00
Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa has expressed her confirmation that she has not yet received the case docket regarding the deaths of five suspected robbers in Okahandja. This update comes after the Namibian Police had committed to handing over the docket to her office, a promise they made seven days earlier.
The National police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, stated 12 days ago that the docket would be delivered to Imalwa’s office by 27 February for her review. However, Imalwa stated that as of yesterday, her office still has not received the docket. She questioned the source of the information that claimed the docket had been submitted, pointing out that it is still with the police.
Shikwambi had informed the media on 22 February that two critical statements related to the case had been collected, along with obtaining 15 statements and 14 supporting documents. She also mentioned the arrest of a sixth suspect in the case. Despite these developments, Imalwa emphasized the importance of the docket being submitted to her head office, not the district court.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the police force, Imalwa recognized their understaffing as a factor that might be affecting the progress in this case. She questioned the delays in the investigation, given the incident occurred last year, and highlighted the workload of the police force amidst manpower shortages.
Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo, who previously denied any delays, explained the need to gather evidence from witnesses who have publicly accused the police of misconduct. He emphasized the importance of obtaining statements from individuals with pertinent information before submitting the docket to the Prosecutor General.
Amidst calls for justice from various parties, including the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters, demands have been made for arrests to be made in connection to the deaths of the five alleged robbery suspects in Okahandja. The incident, which occurred in April last year, resulted in the fatal shooting of the five men.
Criticism has been directed towards the police for perceived cover-ups and lack of transparency in their investigations. Concerns have been raised about the adequacy of evidence in the docket that will be presented to Martha Imalwa, with skeptics questioning the thoroughness of the investigation.
In conclusion, the delay in submitting the case docket to the Prosecutor General’s office has sparked significant debate and scrutiny. With accusations of corruption and a perceived lack of transparency, the pressure is mounting on law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the deaths of the suspected robbers in Okahandja.
Read the original article on The Namibian
