Ongwediva
A 27-year-old Angolan national was arraigned for attempted murder after he allegedly poisoned two people. The near-fatal incident occurred several weeks ago at Okashanakoomanya cuca-shop in the Omuthiya district.
Vaino Mandume Haikali was reportedly arrested after he confessed to having attempted to poison his victims by deliberately lacing their tombo with a highly toxic battery substance.
Haikali made his first appearance in Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Thursday last week.
According to Police Chief Inspector Stephan Nuuyi of the Community Affairs Division in Oshikoto Region, Haikali allegedly admitted to being in possession of torch battery powder. It is alleged Haikali laced the victims’ drinks with a highly toxic power derived from a car battery that can kill if consumed.
“It is alleged the suspect had poison [that he] collected from torch battery powder, which he poured into the victims’ glasses of tombo.
“The suspect has admitted his possession of such battery powder and the poison has been recovered,” said Nuuyi.
One of the victims complained of having vomited more than 20 times after consuming the toxic tombo.
The 24-year-old victim had to be treated at Omuthiya District Hospital and has fortunately been discharged. The other victim is 37 years old. Both are said to have recovered from the poison.
New Era was meanwhile informed that the attemptd murder suspect apparently also attempted to poison another person last year. The police investigation into the matter continues.