Police officer behind bars for bribery
A police officer was arrested in Swakopmund for soliciting bribes totalling N$15 000 in return for sabotaging an investigation into a case of theft.
Last week, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigators arrested detective warrant officer Angula Kleopas Shea (51), a Swakopmund police officer, on charges of bribery.
He is accused of soliciting bribes totalling N$15 000.
The bribes are related to a theft matter stemming from December, in which four suspects were arrested for stealing plant pots from a local nursery.
According to ACC spokesperson, Josefina Nghituwamata, Shea solicited bribes from the father of one of the suspects.
The alleged bribery started in January, after the father asked about the seriousness of the case and for other information.
Shea allegedly told the father he could destroy the fingerprint evidence, get rid of the docket, and that he could also convince the complainant to withdraw the case.
Help you out
He allegedly offered to do this on several occasions, asking for different instalments that added up to N$15 000 in bribery payments.
Nghituwamata said the father kept records related to the bribery, and about two weeks ago, he reported the matter to the ACC.
Shea was arrested at his place of work on Wednesday.
Shea appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate Court last Thursday and was denied bail. He remains in custody until his next scheduled court appearance on 17 October.
Protected
Because of a provision under ACC Act, section 52, which deals with the protection of informers, the man who paid the bribes, was not arrested – regardless of whether he accepted the offer to be bribed, and paid the bribe.
According to this provision, “no action or proceedings of a disciplinary, civil or criminal nature may be instituted or maintained by any person or authority against any informer or a person who has assisted the Commission in an investigation into an alleged or suspected offence under this Act or any other law in respect of any information, other than a material statement, which he or she knew or believed to be false or did not believe to be true, disclosed by him or her to the Commission for the purpose of assisting the Commission in the performance of its functions under this Act.”
The matter will still be forwarded to the prosecutor general for a final decision.
Last week, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigators arrested detective warrant officer Angula Kleopas Shea (51), a Swakopmund police officer, on charges of bribery.
He is accused of soliciting bribes totalling N$15 000.
The bribes are related to a theft matter stemming from December, in which four suspects were arrested for stealing plant pots from a local nursery.
According to ACC spokesperson, Josefina Nghituwamata, Shea solicited bribes from the father of one of the suspects.
The alleged bribery started in January, after the father asked about the seriousness of the case and for other information.
Shea allegedly told the father he could destroy the fingerprint evidence, get rid of the docket, and that he could also convince the complainant to withdraw the case.
Help you out
He allegedly offered to do this on several occasions, asking for different instalments that added up to N$15 000 in bribery payments.
Nghituwamata said the father kept records related to the bribery, and about two weeks ago, he reported the matter to the ACC.
Shea was arrested at his place of work on Wednesday.
Shea appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate Court last Thursday and was denied bail. He remains in custody until his next scheduled court appearance on 17 October.
Protected
Because of a provision under ACC Act, section 52, which deals with the protection of informers, the man who paid the bribes, was not arrested – regardless of whether he accepted the offer to be bribed, and paid the bribe.
According to this provision, “no action or proceedings of a disciplinary, civil or criminal nature may be instituted or maintained by any person or authority against any informer or a person who has assisted the Commission in an investigation into an alleged or suspected offence under this Act or any other law in respect of any information, other than a material statement, which he or she knew or believed to be false or did not believe to be true, disclosed by him or her to the Commission for the purpose of assisting the Commission in the performance of its functions under this Act.”
The matter will still be forwarded to the prosecutor general for a final decision.
Comments
Harry Tjihukununa
Corruption is in circling all over. It rears its head everywhere!