WINDHOEK – A teacher found himself in double trouble after he first attempted to con a businessman and later bribed a police officer to have a docket destroyed, it is alleged.
Oshana Police Regional Commander Commissiner Ndahanggwapo Kashihakumwa confirmed that 29-year-old Immanuel Mutikisha, a teacher at Mwesipandeka High School in Ongwediva, was arrested and charged by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) for contravening Section 38 (8) of 2003, of the ACC Act by attempting to bribe a public official. It is alleged that last Friday Mutikisha offered N$7 000 to a police officer to destroy the docket in a case of extortion and theft under false pretence that was brought against him on January 29, 2014. Mutikisha was granted bail on Wednesday last week for the first crime, when he allegedly violated his bail conditions by committing the second crime on Friday.
Sources in the police claim that Mutikisha asked the investigating officer to destroy his case docket, because his teaching career was at stake since he was likely to be found guilty on the extortion case. Police allegedly set a trap for Mutikisha and arrested him at the Ongwediva roadblock soon after he paid N$1 000 as the first installment of the bribe to the investigating officer under a tree, not far from the roadblock. Mutikisha who is now set to appear in the Oshakati Regional Court today, was allegedly out on bail after he, his girlfriend and a South African national asked a Ongwediva-based hotel owner, who is also the former employer of Mutikisha’s girlfriend, to pay them N$319 000 for alleged unfair dismissal and sexual harassment. The businessman became suspicious of Mutikisha, who impersonated a Ministry of Labour official, and the South African national who claimed to be a lawyer when they allegedly demanded N$200 000 in cash and a total of N$119 000 that was to be paid in installments. The businessman reported the mater to the police, which led to the arrest of the trio. Mutikisha’s trial date for the first case is scheduled for February 24.
By Helvy Shaanika