ONDANGWA – A 39-year-old man was sentenced for reckless and negligent driving in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court last Friday.
Sammi Namgongo from Oshuupa village was arrested in December last year after he crashed the vehicle he was driving. He was arrested on the day of the accident, which took place between 6pm and 7pm at Omwandi in Ondangwa.
It was further charged that Namgongo, who is a fisherman, was driving under the influence of alcohol. A pedestrian was seriously injured in the accident.
Magistrate Ninja Hochebes informed Namgongo that although no lives were lost in the accident, he had committed a serious offence that was not only harmful to himself. The magistrate said the offence is common around Ondangwa hence the accused could not go unpunished.
For purposes of sentence the magistrate took into consideration that Namgongo was a first offender, a single parent of three children and has five dependants. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and was given a fine of N$4 000 or six months in prison of which N$2 000 was suspended on condition that the accused does not commit the same offence within three years from the day of his sentence. His driving licence was also suspended for six months and handed to the court.
The accused was represented by Arumugan Thambapilai of the Thambapilai law firm. Toini Shilongo prosecuted.
By Nuusita Ashipala