WALVIS BAY – The Namibian police in the Erongo Region arrested its former stock theft unit commander Desmond Kamoruao who was a detective inspector yesterday morning in Karibib.
Kamoruao who is suspected of being the mastermind linked to a stock theft syndicate that operated in the Karibib district was arrested after he allegedly handed himself over to detectives currently investigating a case of stock theft against him and several others. Inspector Erastus Iikuyu told New Era the suspect surrendered to Nampol yesterday morning and he was expected to appear in court the same day in the afternoon. Kamoruao’s arrest follows weeks after a warrant of arrest was issued for him after he went into hiding following the arrest of two other suspects for the theft of more than 30 cattle in the Karibib district.
The two suspects of which one was Kamoruao’s herder were allegedly reported by Kamoruao himself to Nampol. However, while investigating the matter, Nampol allegedly found four cattle with tampered branding at Kamoruao’s rented farm. The cattle were allegedly found in one of his kraals in January this year and are believed to be stolen. The two other suspects, Eliakim Ndetutjire and Gerson Hanavi are also expected to appear in the Karibib Magistrate’s Court today in connection with the theft. During their appearance in court in January this year the two were not asked to plead and their case was postponed for further police investigation. Nampol last week also reported that more than half-a-million dollars worth of livestock was allegedly reported stolen in the Erongo Region in January this year. Towns such as Omaruru, Karibib, Usakos and Uis are the most affected areas in the region.
According to Nampol about 7 971 cattle and other livestock, with an estimated value of N$22.5 million were reported stolen countrywide in 2013. Some 776 arrests were made and 1 274 charges relating to stock theft were laid and investigated. Deputy Commissioner Otillie Kashuupulwa last week announced that 143 goats, 129 cattle, 87 sheep and six donkeys with a estimated combined value of N$627 770 were reported stolen in the Erongo Region. Only 69 of the missing animals were recovered, including some carcasses and cooked meat valued at N$296 250.
By Eveline de Klerk