WALVIS BAY – A security guard from Namibia Protection Services (NPS) and his accomplice made their first appearance in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court on two counts of thefts on Monday.
Freygon Katjire (23) is a driver at NPS and his accomplice Rodger Otjoi (22) is believed to be the mastermind behind last Thursday’s theft of N$336 869 from the company which was meant to be deposited.
The two stand accused of planning the theft with three other suspects, however one of the suspects, Katjire’s assistant and co-driver was released over the weekend following police interrogation.
However, Katjire was arrested several hours after the theft was committed and he spent the entire weekend in custody after he was interrogated by Nampol officers over the disappearance of the cash and cheque-stuffed safety deposit boxes.
Otjoi was arrested in Windhoek last Friday.
Katjire and his co-driver were supposed to collect the safety deposit boxes containing the money and cheques from Erongo Red and Metro, a wholesaler, but they allegedly disappeared with the cash and the cheques. In fact, they were supposed to drop off the money at various banks as required, but Katjire allegedly feigned a bogus armed robbery with the other suspects without the knowledge of his co-driver and diverted their normal route and drove off to Meersig suburb.
It is further alleged that the two guards handed over the money to Katjire’s three accomplices, who were waiting for them in a get-away vehicle. However, Katjire and his co-driver were arrested before Katjire could meet with his accomplices again.
The security vehicle was later found abandoned near a church in Meersig. Commissioner Ottilie Kashupuulwa on Sunday said two suspects are still at large and police are following up all leads to bring them to book.
“The suspects got away with N$333 869 in total and cheques of N$56 285,” said Kashupuulwa. Kashupuulwa further told New Era that the guards collected N$144 388 in cash and cheques of N$44 692 from Erongo Red.
They also collected N$188 581 in cash and N$11 593 worth of cheques from Metro.
This is the second time in the space of four months that money in-transit by NPS guards is stolen.
Last December the police at Walvis Bay foiled a similar incident when a security guard of the company stole N$4.3 million in cash and cheques.
However crack detective work by the police led to the arrest of NPS security guard Mutatubi Sylvester Kopani and his accomplice a Malawian witchdoctor.
The case is still in the courts.
By Eveline de Klerk