ONGWEDIVA - Namibian Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga said his office will no longer tolerate police officers who steal government fuel for their personal vehicles.
Recently, a 43-year-old police officer at Omuthiya was granted bail of N$700 after being arrested for allegedly filling his personal vehicle with government fuel.
“Police should be professional, leading a good example in the society because they are there to protect people,” Ndeitunga said.
According to Ndeitunga, there has been a rapidly growing concern about police officers stealing fuel by using government vehicles’ fuel cards.
“It is really a bad picture when officers commit crimes,” Ndeitunga said on Wednesday in a telephonic interview with New Era.
“Many police officers are there to chase after salary – but when it comes to crime at their work premises, they do not act,” he said.
Ndeitunga further said it does not make sense that officers are not noticing crimes committed by their fellow officers.
“How can a police station commander not be aware of the crime taking place within their work premises as if their eyes are covered? They are just salary collectors but not observing crime amongst their colleagues,” he lamented.
Ndeitunga reminded police officers that they are getting paid to protect government properties and the nation but not to commit crimes.
He also said they have established a new policy to ensure that government fuel is protected, including those using government fuel cards.
“We want to make sure that those thieves in uniform are no longer going to take advantage of government cards at the service stations,” Ndeitunga said.
He stressed that the aim of the new implementation policy is to prevent the government properties from being abused and easy tracing of suspects.
The police chief urged station commanders to carry out their duties at all times and to be more vigilant whenever officers are using fuel cards.