By Eveline de Klerk
WALVIS BAY – The suspended chief executive officer of the Omaruru Town Council, Edward Ganaseb, is finding himself again on the wrong side of the law following his arrest yesterday afternoon at Omaruru over allegations of cattle theft and forgery.
Ganaseb was arrested after a tampered permit and a carcass he allegedly smuggled from Okombahe to Walvis Bay were traced back to him by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region earlier this week.
Ganaseb, who is also a farmer, is expected to make his first appearance today in the Omaruru Magistrate’s Court.
He is accused of allegedly stealing a cow valued at N$6000 from a farmer in the Okombahe communal area in Erongo.
The theft is suspected to have taken place between August and December this year, however the case was only reported earlier this month by the owner.
Confirming Ganaseb’s arrest, the Namibian Police Crime Investigations Co-ordinator for the Erongo Region, Chief Inspector Erastus Iikuyu said Ganaseb faces charges of theft and forgery and or uttering regarding a transport permit.
Iikuyu told New Era that the carcass was found earlier this week in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay at the house of the person Ganaseb allegedly sold it to.
Police apparently during their patrols found the meat in various persons’ possession and requested to see the permit that allowed for the transportation of the carcass to Walvis Bay.
“We detected that the permit was initially issued for the transportation of sheep, however Ganaseb allegedly tampered with the permit so that it allowed him to transport the carcass to Walvis Bay.”
Ganaseb and the entire Omaruru Town Council are currently also being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for mismanagement and allegations of irregularities in the administration of the council.
He was suspended without pay in December last year by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development.