A Namibian Police constable was remanded in custody on Monday after he appeared in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court for shooting and assaulting his girlfriend on 26 December 2014.
The accused, Romeo Swanlisano Libala, 28, allegedly fired a live bullet at his girlfriend Alphinister Siyamuezi, 28, during a physical fight in which he apparently also punched her. The bullet struck her in the left leg, and the victim is currently receiving medical attention at the Katima Mulilo State Hospital.
It is not known what the couple was arguing about, but court records indicate that during the brawl, Libala pushed Siyamuezi onto some broken bottles before he aimed and fired his service pistol in her direction at Club La Di Das in Sibbinda Village.
Libala is a member of the police’s commercial investigations unit in Windhoek.
On Monday, during his first court hearing before Assistant Magistrate George Mushabeti, Libala was charged with three counts – discharging a fire arm in a public place, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and attempted murder.
Libala indicated to the court that he will be conducting his own defence in the matter.
Acting Control Prosecutor, George Matali requested the court to deny Libala bail on the grounds that the accused is a member of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) and should have known better.
“As a police officer, the accused is trained and tasked to serve and protect, maintain law and order and to preserve security. These duties, the accused has acted against. He wanted to injure or kill an innocent lady, whom he is in a relationship with,” Matali said.
The state further objected to Libala’s release from custody on the ground that the matter he is facing is serious and his release would not be in public interest. There is also the risk that he might interfere with the witnesses who all hail from Sibbinda Village, and are known to him.
“If the accused wants to be released from custody, he must make a formal bail application but at this stage, the state is against it,” said Matali.
Libala was remanded at the Kongola Police Station until his next hearing on 2 February 2015.
-Nampa
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