Loide Jason
Namibian Police deputy inspector general Elias Mutota announced an investigation into a case of murder against the police officers who shot and killed five men in Okahandja last Tuesday.
In addition, the police are investigating a case of attempted robbery and malicious damage to property against a suspect who fled the scene.
In the first substantive police report on the controversial killings issued on Tuesday afternoon, a week after the incident, Mutota explained the police received intelligence about a planned robbery at a farm in the Khomas district and a gambling house in Okahandja, prompting a hot pursuit.
“The officers responded to the call and pursued the suspects from the Windhoek-Okahandja Road Traffic Checkpoint to Okahandja, where the suspects allegedly disappeared. Later on, the suspects were spotted at a gambling house near the Okahandja Municipality offices, where a hot pursuit ensued within the Okahandja town,” said Mutota.
Mutota claims that during the chase, the suspects opened fire at the police vehicle, resulting in an exchange of shots before the vehicle came to a halt.
When police approached the suspects’ vehicle, they found five suspects inside, all of whom were declared dead by medical officers who were dispatched to the scene.
A sixth suspect is said to have jumped out of the vehicle and fled the scene. The victims were identified as Abed Andreas, Marius Ipinge, Malaika Kotokeni, Erick Marin and Flavianus Endjala.
The suspects, according to Mutota, had combined 24 criminal cases, ranging from attempted murder to armed robbery and robbery with aggravated circumstances.
A further case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property has been opened against the suspect who fled the scene. The suspects were found with house-breaking equipment, knives and two airguns.
Mutota confirmed that none of the three police officers involved in the shooting were injured during the exchange of fire.
– ljason@nepc.com.na