ONGWEDIVA/OSHAKATI – Johannes Uugwanga, one of the accused in the alleged theft of N$1.8 million from a businessman, appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Uugwanga who was arrested on Tuesday while in bed with his girlfriend has been added to the list of those arrested as accused number seven.
The other accused – Elifas Kamati, Hilya Shikesho, Josef Haitembu Willen Shikongo, Eva Ndjuluwa and Nangeda Simon – have already appeared in court and they were all denied bail.
Uugwanga was not asked to plead and his case, together with that of his six co-accused, was remanded to 24 September, 2014 for further police investigations. He was however told he had a right to file for a formal bail application.
He told the court he intends to use a private lawyer for his defence. Magistrate Mika Namweya presided over the case.
Police in the Oshana Region on Wednesday notched up yet another victory when they arrested Uugwanga aka ‘Shindjami’ who is the last fugitive in the theft of the N$1.8 million in cash which the suspects allegedly stole from an Oshakati West businessman.
Some of the ill-gotten cash was splurged on cars while shack dwellers were reportedly regaled with free booze by the high-living suspected thieves.
The arrest of Shindjami came a few days after police recovered N$100 000 he gave to a 22-year-old relative for safekeeping.
According to the commander of the Oshana Region Police, Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa the suspect was caught off guard on Wednesday morning when police raided the room where he was sleeping with his girlfriend.
Kashihakumwa revealed that Shindjami is the suspect who regaled shebeen patrons with foul language and plied them with free alcohol at a cuca shop.
Kashihakumwa said Shindjami had been to Erongo, Khomas, Opuwo and Kavango to seek refuge and he was en route to Rundu when his life on the run came to a grinding halt.
“He had planned for his return to Rundu this morning, but unfortunately even the walls in Oshana have eyes and ears and as usual we got information from the public,” said Kashihakumwa.
The owner of the house where Shindjami was arrested was equally caught off-guard because he did not know what was happening under his roof.
Police also arrested a taxi driver well-known as ‘Gwashe’ who transports customers to and from Oshakati and Okahao.
Gwashe was arrested for being an accomplice in transporting Shindjami while he was in Ongwediva. Gwashe was also expected to pick him up from the house where he was arrested so that he could embark on his journey to Rundu that ended in drama.
Other people who were arrested in the case were either accomplices who were used to buy cars or to hide the money, however, Kashihakumwa disclosed the people that were directly involved were only four and have all been arrested.
The four accused splurged the ill-gotten cash on cars, alcohol, women, furniture and used it as seed capital to buy building materials to build shebeens.
Kashihakumwa applauded the community in Oshana Region for always working together with the police to combat crime. He said the relationship that exists between the community members and the police will continue to demonstrate that there is no safe haven for criminals in Oshana.
By Helvy Shaanika and Nuusita Ashipala