Otji cops accused of negligence as man dies
The Namibian police in Otjiwarongo has been accused of negligence after a man was stoned to death in the DRC informal settlement in the early hours of Tuesday morning, despite calls to the police station.
Resident Josef Dimbulukweni, who claims to have witnessed the incident, told Nampa he saw five men armed with stones attack another in the street opposite his house. Dimbulukweni said he decided to remain indoors and witnessed the attack through the window shortly after 01:00.
“I then called the police charge office on their charge office landline number where I was told that there was no car to attend to the scene,” said Dimbulukweni adding the deceased could have been saved if the police responded.
Another aggrieved community member, Selma David told Nampa she also decided to remain indoors when she witnessed the attack by the young men.
David said she does not know the deceased or attackers.
“We were all sleeping and suddenly I heard him screaming for help. When I looked through a window, I saw five young men armed with stones attacking him while he lay hopelessly on the ground.”
She said the man was attacked with stones, sticks and beer bottles until he lay quietly on the ground.
David said she made several phone calls to the police charge office and a woman police officer kept telling her there was no transport at the station for them to dispatch officers.
Both David and Dimbulukweni expressed disappointment in NamPol and the Otjiwarongo police station, calling the law enforcement agency “weak” as they only arrived at the scene at 06:00.
Nampa arrived at the scene shortly after the police, who were then cordoning off the scene and were visible with four distinctly marked police vehicles. There were also three unmarked police vehicles.
Contacted for comment at his office, the Otjozondjupa police's regional commander Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze acknowledged receiving the report of a man who was killed and confirmed that he was informed of numerous phone calls to the police station by community members in this regard.
He said the deceased's body was found naked on the ground and was removed by the police.
Tjiveze described the body as swollen and bruised, which prompts suspicions of assault.
“We are now busy investigating two cases, one for murder and another one for failing to attend to a crime scene by police officers,” he said.
The visibly agitated commander said the police have enough vehicles in the region to attend to all crime reports.
He then promised to deal with the police officer(s) on duty at the time of the numerous phone calls once a thorough investigation and report were submitted to his office.
NAMPA
Resident Josef Dimbulukweni, who claims to have witnessed the incident, told Nampa he saw five men armed with stones attack another in the street opposite his house. Dimbulukweni said he decided to remain indoors and witnessed the attack through the window shortly after 01:00.
“I then called the police charge office on their charge office landline number where I was told that there was no car to attend to the scene,” said Dimbulukweni adding the deceased could have been saved if the police responded.
Another aggrieved community member, Selma David told Nampa she also decided to remain indoors when she witnessed the attack by the young men.
David said she does not know the deceased or attackers.
“We were all sleeping and suddenly I heard him screaming for help. When I looked through a window, I saw five young men armed with stones attacking him while he lay hopelessly on the ground.”
She said the man was attacked with stones, sticks and beer bottles until he lay quietly on the ground.
David said she made several phone calls to the police charge office and a woman police officer kept telling her there was no transport at the station for them to dispatch officers.
Both David and Dimbulukweni expressed disappointment in NamPol and the Otjiwarongo police station, calling the law enforcement agency “weak” as they only arrived at the scene at 06:00.
Nampa arrived at the scene shortly after the police, who were then cordoning off the scene and were visible with four distinctly marked police vehicles. There were also three unmarked police vehicles.
Contacted for comment at his office, the Otjozondjupa police's regional commander Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze acknowledged receiving the report of a man who was killed and confirmed that he was informed of numerous phone calls to the police station by community members in this regard.
He said the deceased's body was found naked on the ground and was removed by the police.
Tjiveze described the body as swollen and bruised, which prompts suspicions of assault.
“We are now busy investigating two cases, one for murder and another one for failing to attend to a crime scene by police officers,” he said.
The visibly agitated commander said the police have enough vehicles in the region to attend to all crime reports.
He then promised to deal with the police officer(s) on duty at the time of the numerous phone calls once a thorough investigation and report were submitted to his office.
NAMPA
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