Two appear in court for school robbery

Two men accused of robbing a teacher of N$15 200 at Rudolf Ngondo Primary School at Rundu last week were denied bail yesterday.

Annanias Amutenya (27) and Paulus Shanika (33) appeared before magistrate Sonia Sampofu for their first court appearance in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court.
The duo will remain in custody while the police conduct further investigations.

Amutenya and Shanika, who are the primary suspects in the case, were arrested on Thursday evening at a bar at Sikanduko after they allegedly robbed Christine Kanyetu of N$15 200.

Kanyetu reportedly went to withdraw the money at a local bank, and was followed to the Rudolf Ngondo Primary School grounds.

The suspects allegedly gained entry by jumping the school fence, before they held two male teachers at knife point. They grabbed the bag of money and ran out of the classroom, jumping over the fence before fleeing in a silver Polo.

One of the male teachers was injured during the robbery.
Kavango East acting regional police commander deputy commissioner Eino Nambahu earlier told The Namibian three people were arrested in connection with the robbery.

However, only two suspects appeared in court.

It is alleged that five people were involved in the robbery, including a woman who is suspected to have been the driver of the silver getaway vehicle.

Some of the suspects are still at large.

Amutenya and Shanika are expected to make their second appearance on 25 July.

Public prosecutor Variety Matamata represented the state.

The vehicle used in the crime, a rented silver Polo, was found hidden in a yard at Sauyemwa, and has since been retrieved.

According to the police, the victim’s stolen handbag was found dumped and her documents scattered in the bushes opposite the bar where the culprits were arrested.

The money was not recovered.