… another weekend of fatal attacks
WINDHOEK – Four men were arrested over the weekend in connection with the brutal assault and robbery of 66-year-old farmer Helmut Goldbeck on his farm Orumbo South in the Omitara area on November 12.
According to the weekend crime report of the Namibian Police, investigations led the police to the culprits early on Saturday, November 30. The four suspects were travelling in a vehicle on their way from Otjiwarongo to Windhoek and a high-speed police chase ensued, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the police and the suspects.
Two of the men were wounded and taken to hospital, where they are being kept under police guard while receiving medical attention. The other two suspects were arrested later the same day through excellent detective work and N$39 000 00 was recovered. A safe containing N$244 000 00 in cash as well as cheques of N$82 000 00 were also seized as evidence.
Meanwhile Nampa also reported yesterday that two suspected armed robbers were injured in a shootout with the Namibian Police on Saturday morning on the road between Windhoek and Okahandja. The incident took place at around 06h00, a few kilometres from the Windhoek-Okahandja police roadblock.
It is suspected that the two men wounded in the shootout participated in the assault of farmer Goldbeck, who is now fighting for his life in the Windhoek MediClinic. Goldbeck was badly tortured on his farm. The Namibian Police Deputy Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa told Nampa on enquiry Saturday that the police Intelligence Unit was tipped off that suspected armed robbers were on their way to Windhoek from Otjiwarongo.
Nghishidimba explained that the police laid an ambush for the robbers on the B1 road next to the Okapuka game lodge.
“When the vehicle they were travelling in approached the operations scene, police cars immediately followed them. A shootout ensued when they realised they were detected. The suspected robbers made a U-turn before reaching the Windhoek-Okahandja roadblock and tried to speed off to Okahandja where they were coming from,” he explained.
Nghishidimba said that as the shootout continued, the suspects stopped the car and tried to run off , but two of them could not run as they were injured.
“One suspect could not even come out of the car, while another tried to run but was arrested some 200 metres from the car.”
No police officer was injured during the shootout.
In a separate matter also on November 30, Titus Shiikwa (24) and a friend were walking through the dark alleyways of the notorious Evelyn Street when they were attacked by a group of about seven males. Shiikwa was stabbed five times in his upper body and was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries, while his friend survived. The motive for the attack is unknown and the assailants are still at large.
In Otjomuise Road, Katu Hendrik (39) and his relative were hit by an oncoming vehicle while pushing another vehicle. Hendrik died on the spot.
His next of kin have been informed. The driver of the vehicle will be charged and the case has been forwarded to the Proesecutor General for a final decision.
In Havana location, Walvis Bay Street, Alfeus Nanapo (28) had a quarrel in a shebeen with an unidentified suspect who stabbed him in the chest and ran away. Nanapo died on the spot. The suspect fled to Oshivelo where he was arrested later that day.
In Keetmanshoop, //Karas Region on November 27 at about 12h00 at Engen service station, Ichsaan Thys (38), Veronica Plaatjies (45), and Norman Plaatjies (51) were arrested after they were found in possession of 100kg of cannabis. The suspects appeared in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on November 29 and police investigations continue.
At Omuthiya, at Standard Bank at about 1am it is alleged that a 26-year- old suspect broke the glass door of the bank with an iron bar to gain entry.
The suspect stole a computer screen and was arrested inside the bank. The stolen item was recovered.
He is also alleged to have caused damage to an FNB ATM, a CCTV camera and a main door of the FNB bank.
The suspect is a truck driver who resides in Zambezi Street in Wanaheda, Windhoek. Police investigations continue.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa