Cop arrested over mob attack

POLICE at Okahao have arrested five people, including a Police officer, following media reports of a mob attack on two women at the town in February.

The mob had allegedly accused the women, 19-year-old Rachel Kapolo and 33-year-old Ester Ageshe, of witchcraft and of poisoning a number of townspeople. The two were severely beaten with fists, sticks and tree branches.Ageshe has laid charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.Police reported yesterday that they had arrested Constable Matheus Amadhila, also known as Nufu, who had been identified by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) as a chief instigator in the attack.He was arrested on Wednesday, appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court and was granted N$500 bail.Police yesterday arrested four civilians for the same crime.They were all granted bail of N$500 and their case was postponed until July 18.The four have been identified as Shikongo Ipinge, Abel Abia, Abraham Manda and Isack Manda.The Police said they were looking for a second Police officer, who would be arrested soon.However, they said that allegations by the NSHR against a Constable identified as Johanna Nakanyala could not be substantiated, and she was not believed to have been part of the mob.The NSHR managed to film part of the assault when it happened, and showed the video to the media on Tuesday.The Minister of Safety and Security, Peter Tsheehama, yesterday assured the public that prompt investigations had been ordered into all alleged misdeeds by Police officers countrywide.”The long arm of the law will definitely take its course as far as those … accused of wrongdoing are concerned,” the minister said in the National Assembly said.The two were severely beaten with fists, sticks and tree branches.Ageshe has laid charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.Police reported yesterday that they had arrested Constable Matheus Amadhila, also known as Nufu, who had been identified by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) as a chief instigator in the attack.He was arrested on Wednesday, appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court and was granted N$500 bail.Police yesterday arrested four civilians for the same crime.They were all granted bail of N$500 and their case was postponed until July 18.The four have been identified as Shikongo Ipinge, Abel Abia, Abraham Manda and Isack Manda.The Police said they were looking for a second Police officer, who would be arrested soon.However, they said that allegations by the NSHR against a Constable identified as Johanna Nakanyala could not be substantiated, and she was not believed to have been part of the mob.The NSHR managed to film part of the assault when it happened, and showed the video to the media on Tuesday.The Minister of Safety and Security, Peter Tsheehama, yesterday assured the public that prompt investigations had been ordered into all alleged misdeeds by Police officers countrywide.”The long arm of the law will definitely take its course as far as those … accused of wrongdoing are concerned,” the minister said in the National Assembly said.