Maltah¶he: A seven-year-old boy allegedly drowned in the Hudup River near Maltah¶he in the Hardap Region on Saturday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the incident occurred near the bridge along the C14 gravel road, where the deceased was swimming in the river with three other boys without adult supervision. He was identified as Winsley George Brander.

NamPol officers responded to the scene and conducted a search, during which the boy's lifeless body was found stuck in the mud beneath the river. The body was retrieved and transported to the Mariental mortuary. His next of kin were informed.

In an unrelated incident, three NamPol officers were arrested on Friday after a motor vehicle accident, during which alleged unlawful possession of farm produce near Aranos was discovered. The incident reportedly occurred last Wednesday on the M32 gravel road between Aranos and Gochas, when a Toyota Hilux NamPol vehicle collided with a kudu.

It is alleged that after the accident, the occupants of the vehicle proceeded to a nearby farm where they unlawfully collected one sheep carcass and two bags of intestines without the consent or knowledge of the farm owner. The items, valued at N.dollars 2 000, were allegedly obtained from a farm worker and were later recovered.

The suspects are charged with contravening the Anti-Corruption Act (Act 8 of 2003), the Stock Theft Act (Act 12 of 1990), and reckless and/or negligent driving under the Road Traffic and Transport Act (Act 22 of 1999). They are expected to appear before the Aranos Magistrate's Court on Monday and police investigations continue.