A 31-year-old man has accused the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) of violating his
constitutional rights and unlawfully detaining him. He claims that his life and that of his family are under threat.

In a detailed letter to Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha – also copied to Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa and NamPol inspector general Joseph Shikongo – the man, who is co-accused with former fisheries minister Mac Albert Hengari, makes a series of grave allegations. The man’s identity may not be revealed to protect the identity of his sister – a victim of an alleged rape.

Arrest

The man and Hengari were arrested on 26 April 2025 and remain in custody at the Windhoek Correctional Facility. They face charges of attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.  The State alleges that Hengari attempted to pay the 21-year-old complainant N$222 000 to withdraw a rape case she lodged against him. The complainant is the biological sister of Hengari’s co-accused. Their bid to have the charges withdrawn was dismissed in court on Friday.

Before arrest

Before his arrest, the man lived in Bremen, Germany, with his wife and son.He worked as a technician for a shipping and manufacturing company in Hamburg. 

He said he regularly sent financial support to his mother and sister in Namibia, particularly after his parents’ divorce.

In early April, he claims he was urgently asked by his mother and sister to come to Namibia to help resolve the unfolding matter involving Hengari. 

He reached out to Hengari before his flight.

 The former minister allegedly encouraged him to secure legal representation for his sister.

Safe house 

The man said that communication with his mother and sister suddenly ceased for over a week. 

It was only later that his younger brother informed him that both women had been taken by the police to an undisclosed “safe house” with no access to outside contact.

Concerned, he said he informed the police of his plans to travel and his intention to engage a lawyer upon arrival. 

However, just hours after landing in Namibia on 26 April, he was arrested.

He said, as he was being taken away, his sister whispered, ‘You will be released… they only want Mr Hengari, not you’.

While in detention, he alleged that he was visited three times by officers, including one named Werner. 

They allegedly told him to plead guilty if he wanted to see his family again.

They promised that he would only be fined before being allowed to return to Germany.

He said the officers made it clear that their real interest was in building a case against Hengari. 

His sister allegedly contacted his wife three times, urging her to convince him to cooperate with the police.

When he refused, saying he would not admit to something he did not do or help frame another person, he said the police began harassing his family. 

He claims that his mother and sister were warned not to visit him or risk arrest themselves.

Impact

The man said police attempted to search his luggage without a warrant and confiscated his mobile phone, which he used for online banking. 

This has resulted in missed payments and a plummeting credit score.

 The man claimed to have lost his job in Germany due to his prolonged detention and can no longer support his wife, son or extended family.

After legal interventions, his mother was eventually allowed to visit him. She was reportedly shocked and claimed the police were trying to turn the family against each other.She allegedly visited Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa to express her concerns. 

She said the statement read in court, which claimed that the accused’s sister had alerted police to his alleged interference, was false and never made by her daughter.

He further claimed that no family member has seen his sister or her infant since the ordeal began. 

His mother allegedly suspects the young woman has suffered a mental breakdown and possibly a stroke and is now unable to walk.

The co-accused alleges that the investigating officers were paid to arrest both him and Hengari. 

He said his sister was promised money if she helped facilitate Hengari’s arrest and that police threatened both women with perjury charges if they did not cooperate.

Plea 

In his letter to the Ombudsman, the man urges Dyakugha to investigate the whereabouts and well-being of his sister and her child.  He wants an inquiry into whether police deliberately kept his mother away from her daughter and granddaughter, whether threats of perjury were issued, and whether any bribes or coercion were used to secure arrests.

He also requests the Ombudsman to obtain and review communications, such as messages and call records between police officers and his family, particularly with officers identified as Werner and Ndumba, dating back to late last year when the matter first surfaced.

The man is also appealing for collaboration between the Ombudsman’s office and the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate potential corruption within NamPol, which he believes may have played a role in their arrest.

“I believe these actions violate my constitutional rights. I have done nothing wrong and refuse to accept a criminal record or be used to falsely implicate someone else,” he wrote. – emumbuu@nepc.com.na