Windhoek
A third suspect involved in the alleged armed robbery which took place at a Chinese-owned brick factory near Kombat last week, was arrested on Sunday.
The suspect, Wilbard Shimoshili Paulus, 31, appeared in the Otavi Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was denied bail due to the gravity of the charges he faces.
Last Tuesday, three Chinese men who were watching television at the house on the premises of the brick factory were attacked by a group of six robbers. The robbers gained entrance to the residence through an unlocked door. The gang got away with N$150 000 in cash, a Samsung cellphone, a 9mm pistol and one vehicle. So far the police have recovered only N$59 200 of the stolen money.
Last week two suspects – Ekandjo Jafet, 35, and Martin Nakale, 23 – were arrested separately at the Windhoek-Okahandja roadblock and found in possession of N$8 200. The two appeared in the Otavi Magistrate’s Court and were also denied bail. Their case was postponed to November 26.
The Otjozondjupa regional crime investigation coordinator, Chief Inspector Naukalemo Andreas, said Paulus claimed that he was not part of the robbery but was called to the scene by Jafet.
She said Paulus alleges that while he was in Windhoek he received a call at around 15:00 by Jafet, 35, asking him to drive to Grootfontein. Paulus is the owner of the Toyota Hilux, which he and other suspects abandoned when pursued by the police outside Otavi after the robbery.
The police recovered from Paulus’ vehicle N$51 450 in cash, 21 live firearm rounds, a 9mm pistol and two cellphones belonging to the suspects.
The police also found a cellphone belonging to the Chinese national and a panga used in the robbery.
The getaway vehicle was seized and taken to the Otavi police station.
Paulus’ vehicle was being driven at high speed in the direction of Tsumeb, which made the police suspicious. The police were busy chasing suspects involved in the same robbery on foot, who had abandoned a stolen vehicle they were travelling in earlier. Andreas said regardless of Paulus’ statement he is still a suspect, adding that the number of suspects has increased to seven.