Wild car chase, shootout follow armed robbery

A robbery suspect died in the Oshakati State Hospital on Monday after being shot by Police last week.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Slogan Mateus told The Namibian yesterday that Uushona Hagai Shilinge (29) was shot in the early morning hours of December 27. Earlier that night, about seven men armed with pistols had robbed a service station at Ondangwa.Sergeant Mateus said the men had tied up a shop attendant and petrol attendant and got away with N$259 754.The Police were immediately notified of the robbery and five suspects were arrested during the night.An amount of N$228 956 and three pistols were recovered.The five – Mateus Petrus (37), Daniel Shipundi (34), Toivo Shindongo (28), Gabriel Shinyemba (30) and Frans Antonius Dominikus (26) – were arrested at Enkono village in the Ondangwa area.Mateus said the Police spotted two cars, including the one allegedly used in the robbery, at a village near Ongwediva.The cars sped away in the direction of Oshakati and the Police gave chase.According to the Police, the suspected getaway vehicle was driven by Shilinge and the other occupant was suspect Erasmus Amushila Shilongo (29).The second car was driven by Iyambo Sakaria (28), who stopped when they reached Oshakati and gave himself up to the Police.Shilinge and Shilongo sped on, ignoring warning shots fired by the Police, Sergeant Mateus said.The Police then opened fire on the car near the Oshakati Civic Centre.Shilinge was wounded in the back.All seven suspects appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on December 30.They were denied bail and the case was postponed to February for further Police investigation.Earlier that night, about seven men armed with pistols had robbed a service station at Ondangwa.Sergeant Mateus said the men had tied up a shop attendant and petrol attendant and got away with N$259 754.The Police were immediately notified of the robbery and five suspects were arrested during the night.An amount of N$228 956 and three pistols were recovered.The five – Mateus Petrus (37), Daniel Shipundi (34), Toivo Shindongo (28), Gabriel Shinyemba (30) and Frans Antonius Dominikus (26) – were arrested at Enkono village in the Ondangwa area.Mateus said the Police spotted two cars, including the one allegedly used in the robbery, at a village near Ongwediva.The cars sped away in the direction of Oshakati and the Police gave chase.According to the Police, the suspected getaway vehicle was driven by Shilinge and the other occupant was suspect Erasmus Amushila Shilongo (29).The second car was driven by Iyambo Sakaria (28), who stopped when they reached Oshakati and gave himself up to the Police.Shilinge and Shilongo sped on, ignoring warning shots fired by the Police, Sergeant Mateus said.The Police then opened fire on the car near the Oshakati Civic Centre.Shilinge was wounded in the back.All seven suspects appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on December 30.They were denied bail and the case was postponed to February for further Police investigation.