A member of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol)’s Protected Resources Unit (PRU) in the Otjozondjupa Region who is accused of the alleged theft of a rhino horn while under his care, has resigned.
This was revealed by the Head of the PRU, Deputy Commissioner Barry De Klerk during the accused, Salatiel Simon’s bail application hearing on Friday.
De Klerk who is the immediate supervisor of Simon and now a State witness, also informed Magistrate Peingondjabi Shipo that the accused resigned on 19 October 2022, citing personal reasons and that his last working day is 01 November 2022.
De Klerk opposed the granting of bail, saying Simon might interfere with police investigations which have just started and might abscond since he has quit his job which was his main source of income.
“It will also not be in the interest of the public and that of the administration of justice as some of the accused persons Simon arrested for a similar charge are also still in custody, failing to secure bail,” he said.
De Klerk further stated that the missing horn was on 01 October 2022 recovered in Angola and one male suspect was arrested.
Its DNA samples will have to be performed in Angola and the results crossed checked with the rhino to which it was dehorned, he said.
It is alleged that Simon was given six rhino horns for safe keeping and he only booked in five at the Otjiwarongo Police Station. He thereafter failed to provide satisfactory answers when questioned on the whereabouts of the sixth horn.
He already made his first court appearance on 05 October 2022 when his case was postponed to 24 January 2023 pending police investigations.
The alleged missing horn weighs 12 kilogrammes, with an estimated value of N.dollars 96 000.
Lawyer Kenneth Siambango represented Simon, while Advocate Johannes Kalipi for the State.
Magistrate Shipo ruled that since there is still a State witness to testify, Siambango and Kalipi should during next week announce new dates for the continuation of the same bail application.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
