Inmate killed in Ondangwa police cells

Four inmates in the Ondangwa police holding cells have been charged with murder and defeating the course of justice after they allegedly killed another inmate, Kristol Hafeni (27), last week.

Oshana police head of criminal investigations deputy commissioner Fredrick Ndjadila has confirmed Hafeni’s death.

Ndjadila says Hafeni was killed over a smartphone that was smuggled into the cell.

The accused are: Tangeni Mahomato Nghinamwaami (27), David Kondja-shili (25), Kaulungamenwa Wilbard Natangwe (23) and Tobias Vatilifa Lungameni (26).

The weapon used has not yet been identified but it is believed to be a sharp object, says Ndjadila.

Hafeni was taken into custody on 18 May this year on charges of housebreaking and theft, as well as unauthorised possession of a firearm, says Ndjadila.

“The arguments emanated from a smart cellphone which was illegally siphoned in cells, contrary to the police cell management, so it seems the sharp object entered the cells in the same way,” Ndjadila says.

Ndjadila further says inmates are discouraged from bringing unauthorised objects, articles and contraband into the cells, as this can often lead to detrimental confrontations.

“The said cellphone and sharp object were recovered,” Ndjadila says.

ANOTHER CASES
In 2019, an inmate was slapped to death by a fellow prisoner at Tsumeb. He fell so hard that he hit his head on the floor after he and another inmate reportedly had an argument.

In 2017, the Windhoek High Court convicted three inmates for the killing of a fellow convict, Eddy Gomxob, in the Windhoek Correctional Facility after a sexual relationship behind bars reportedly went sour.

The three are Herman Rukero (28), Benedictus Afrikaner (31) and Maleachi Seibeb (48).

Gomxob was killed in a prison bathroom in January 2012.

After the killing, the three reportedly also tried to hinder the investigation of the incident by instructing fellow inmates not to reveal what they had witnessed.

Gomxob died as a result of a head injury and multiple stab wounds to his chest.