WINDHOEK – A couple lost goods reportedly worth over N$200 000, including their cash cow the shebeen in Greenwell Matongo’s Eveline Street, after their 23-year-old son allegedly set their shack on fire.
The efforts of the son were an ill-thought out attempt to conceal evidence after he allegedly stole the parents’ safe that was stuffed with hard cash. The suspect Paulus Wilbard’s parents – Katrina Immanuel and Amathila Petrus – travelled to the north to attend a wedding over the weekend when their son allegedly committed the wicked deeds.
Speaking to New Era yesterday, the devastated father of the suspect said he lost everything that he worked so hard for. Among the losses are two jukeboxes, a gambling machine, four deep freezers, 10 crates of cooldrinks and 20 crates of beer, among other goods.
“We were in the north when we received a call around 01h00 that the house was burning. When we arrived on Saturday we found that all our belongings were gutted by fire. We have nothing left now,” lamented the devastated Petrus. The couple who have since sought refuge with neighbours are urging good Samaritans to come to their rescue either with food, clothing or building materials.
According to a relative who was in the shack at the time of the incident, the suspect went into his parents’ bedroom and removed the safe from a wardrobe. He reportedly set the wardrobe on fire which spread to other rooms including the shebeen.
Thereafter he sought the help of his two friends to cut open the safe. They discarded the safe in the surrounding bushes after removing the money.
Although it is still not yet clear how much money was exactly stolen an amount of N$3 471 was found hidden in a dustbin in Eveline Street. A few young women who were asleep in the house escaped the fire unhurt.Wilbard was arrested over the weekend with his two friends, the 24-year-old Samuel Amupolo and Joshua Aphafruse, 18. The three appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on Monday and were denied bail.They face charges of theft and arson.The couple are now homeless and are requesting help at 0812450518 or 0812857610.Head of the Public Relations Department, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi confirmed the theft and arson.