The mother of one of the six suspects who allegedly stole N$6 million from the house of northern businessman Shamil Dirk was allegedly assaulted by another criminal gang pretending to be police officers.
The incident happened in April at Okalongo in the Omusati region, a source close to the robbery has told The Namibian.
The gang allegedly went to one of the suspects’ house looking for money and told the woman they were police officers.
They then allegedly asked her to give them the loot.
When the woman failed to give them any money, they allegedly assaulted her and she was admitted to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“Fake police officers went to his house looking for the money and beat up his mother. His mother was admitted to the ICU,” the source said.
The source said some of the suspects were arrested before for robbing Chinese nationals at Oshakati.
“They get away because they have some police officers on their side giving information on how to beat the police system,” the source said.
Oshana chief investigator deputy commissioner Theophilus Kamati yesterday said he was aware of the assault, but no case has been opened.
Kamati last week said the robbery took place between 30 and 31 March this year at Dirk’s house at Ongwediva.
The money was in the businessman’s vehicle and he only opened a case of theft out of a motor vehicle on 2 April at Ongwediva Police Station, Kamati said.
Dirk runs transportation company Samco Import and Export CC.
Kamati last week confirmed that the police have arrested three suspects – Frans Gold Kutyowa, Henock Teofelus and Wilbard Teddy Nangombe.
He said Kutyowa was arrested at the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on 8 May this year while appearing for another matter in which he was charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances in May 2020.
Kamati said the police are not sure whether there are six suspects as investigations are ongoing.
He said the police did not recover money from the suspects.
It has been rumoured that the N$6 million stolen from Dirk’s vehicle at Ongwediva was linked to money laundering, which Dirk has denied.
He said he planned to take the money to the bank the following day.
“I do business in Angola, and it is big cash. I make big deposits. My bank knows me. I don’t know what money laundering people are talking about,” he said last week.
Another source believes the whole amount of stolen money could not be recovered, since some of the suspects had already bought vehicles with it.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
