ONDANGWA – Petrus Absalom (24), was arrested on Monday after he was allegedly caught red handed selling police uniforms in Ondangwa.
Absalom appeared in court yesterday and was denied bail. The matter was postponed to 4 August 2025.
Namibia Police Force’s deputy commissioner Fredrik Ndjadila said, the uniforms were reported stolen from a house two months ago.
The stolen items include a pair of official police shoes, socks, a cap, a reflector jacket with a traffic badge, a belt, blue operational trousers, police-issued trousers, shirts, camouflage trousers, a jersey and shorts. The items belonged to a traffic section officer stationed in Ondangwa.
Ndjadila said police got information that someone was looking for buyers of the uniforms.
“The informer contacted the suspect, pretending to be interested in purchasing the uniforms,” he said.
The source then went to view the uniforms, and alerted the police.
“A sting operation was set up, which led to the suspect’s arrest. The suspect was found with a backpack containing some of the stolen uniforms, and after further interrogation, additional pieces of uniforms were recovered,” he said.
Ndjadila said another well-known suspect linked to the crime is still at large.
He urged members of the public not to wear police uniforms, unless they are authorised officers.
“People should report anyone pretending to be a police officer and wearing the uniform,” Ndjadila said.
He said wearing police uniform by unauthorised people can facilitate the commission of crimes, including robbing and scamming others.
“If your police officer relative passes away, the uniform should be returned to the police station where that officer was stationed,” he urged.