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Police delay probe into N$14m speed cameras – PG


PROSECUTOR general Martha Imalwa says the police have on several occasions since 2021 failed to comply with her instructions to conclude an investigation into them spending N$14 million on dysfunctional speed cameras.

In 2015, the police contracted CSS Tactical Security Namibia – owned by Swapo think tank member and politically connected businessman Amos Shiyuka – to install 12 high-tech radar traffic cameras on the B1 and B2 national roads.

They did, however, not function as planned.

The yellow cameras are located on the 1 467 kilometre-long B1 road which connects Noordoewer along the South African border to Oshikango via Windhoek.

Other cameras are on the 390 km-long B2 road that connects the Walvis Bay port to Windhoek.

The system initially cost N$3,6 million, but the contract escalated to N$14 million.

Namibian Police commissioner Helen Gawases opened a case to investigate on behalf of the police on 5 May 2020, but no further information has been made public so far. Prosecutor general Martha Imalwa last month told The Namibian her office has sent the docket back to the police on several occasions.

She said the docket was first received by her office on 17 June 2021.

The Office of the Prosecutor General then gave instructions for further investigations and forwarded them, together with the docket, to the police on 13 August 2021.

The docket was later returned and reached the prosecutor general’s office on 2 February 2022.

“The instructions given previously by this office were not fully complied with, thus the docket was referred back to the investigator on the same day,” Imalwa said.

The docket was returned again to the Office of the Prosecutor General in April 2022.

On perusal of the docket, Imalwa said it was discovered that some of her office’s instructions were still not complied with.

“This office further discussed the instructions on 16 June 2022 with the investigators involved and reached an agreement that the investigators will go and comply fully with the instructions given in the first letter issued by this office in 2021,” she said.

“At this moment (17 August 2022) as we are talking, the docket in question is not with the Office of the Prosecutor General and it’s therefore wrong to say that the docket is being delayed by this office maybe because (Shiyuka) is part of the politically exposed persons,” said Imalwa.

She said the status or position a person holds in society does not play a role in her office’s handling of dockets.

“We see all people as equal before the law and treat them as such. This office doesn’t take decisions to satisfy the public or whoever has an interest in the matter.

“We make informed decisions based on the availability of the interest to prevail,” she said.

Former police inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga in June confirmed to The Namibian that he appointed a team to investigate the matter, but admitted he did not know how far the investigation has progressed.

The Namibian Police’s head of commercial crime investigations, commissioner Given Kaura, last month said the latest instructions from the PG have been complied with, and the case docket will be resubmitted to the PG’s office.

“The investigations reach all over the country, including the careful collecting of evidence, an exercise which cannot be concluded overnight,” he said.

The police initially thought they concluded their investigations when they forwarded the report to the Office of the Prosecutor General in December 2021.

Kaura labelled the matter as a high-profile case because of the funds involved, and because of the modus operandi involved.

“Those yellow poles are all over Namibia […] up to Rundu and Oshakati. If you are carrying out such an investigation, you need to visit those places as well. It will take time,” he said.

The investigation was first led by Kaura’s predecessor, commissioner Moritz Norres !Naruseb, who was transferred to head the police’s Criminal Investigations Directorate.

“When he was transferred, I took over. I needed to study the docket from scratch. I am happy with the progress. We can’t rule out the possibility of further investigations, but for now we are done,” said Kaura.

Asked what the investigations have revealed so far and whether arrests will be made, he said: “The decision of the PG will guide us.”

Shiyuka last week said: “The authorities know what the issue is. I think it’s only wise and fair that I don’t say anything at this point in time. Rather consult the police,” he said.

“It’s been a back-and-forth. Yes, the things are working, but there is the issue of gazetting.

“The issue is out of my control, and for me to be answering questions now would not be fair . . .”





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