By Anna Ingwafa
OSHAKATI
The police in Oshana Region recorded a significant decline in crime over the festive season compared to last year, police spokesperson Slogan Mateus said yesterday.
During the festive season, the Oshana police scored a huge success.
Achievements include the arrest of six men who were involved in an armed robbery in the early hours of December 27 at a service station in Ondangwa.
The six suspects tied up a petrol attendant and went into the shop where they held people at gunpoint. They managed to get away with more than N$251 000 of which N$225 125. 80 was recovered as well as three pistols believed to have been used during the robbery.
The suspects are Matheus Petrus (37), Daniel Shipundi (34), Toivo Shindongo (28), Frans Antonius Dominikus (26), and Gabriel Shinyemba (30) who were arrested at Enkono village near Ondangwa.
One of the suspects Uushona Hagai Shilinge (29) died at Oshakati State Hospital after being shot by police in the back following a chase.
Shilinge was driving a getaway car together with Erasmus Amushila Shilongo (29) who was also arrested.
The second car was driven by Iyambo Sakaria (28), who gave himself up to the police.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Slogan Mateus confirmed that Shilinge died two days later. Police acted on a tip-off from a member of the public. Three days later, the police went to the scene and discovered a rifle which is believed to have been used in the same robbery.
The suspects appeared in Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on December 30. They were not granted bail and their case was postponed to February 4th for further police investigation.
In a separate incident, Oshana police arrested Paulus Angala (26) and Jafet Mvula (25) in connection with an attempt to break into an FNB ATM at Chris Nunes Service Station in Ongwediva on the night of December 24.
It is alleged that the suspects used a cutting torch to gain entrance into the ATM room through the back of the building. They however failed to get hold of the cash box.
The arrest made was through pure police action. The VW Polo suspected to have been used was also impounded. The suspects appeared in Oshakati Magistrate’s Court, and no bail was granted and the police investigation continues.
At Ondangwa, two Makarov pistols, two traditional knives, two pangas and four small knives were confiscated.
At Okatope, a wanted suspect and an illegal immigrant were arrested and two unlicensed shotguns were also recovered.
In Oshakati, one Makarov pistol and an unlicensed shotgun were confiscated.
At Oshikuku in Omutaku village a 49-year-old man was arrested after it was alleged that between December 2006 and December 2007 he was left in charge of 18 cattle worth N$50 000 belonging to a family member and later sold them. Fourteen of the animals were recovered by the police at several villages around the Oshi-kuku area.