(Please click on the picture to view the video)
Niel Terblanche
A member of the Namibian Defence force will not only have to answer in the criminal court for stealing from a retail outlet but will also the face the full wrath of military disciplinary code for disgracing the uniform of the NDF.
Lieutenant Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, Acting head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Defence, confirmed that Vistorina Shilongo, a private in the NDF, was arrested by the Namibian Policed on charges of theft and shoplifting.
“She already appeared in a Magistrate’s Court in Windhoek and was granted bail of N$1 000. I was informed that the member in question was supposed to appear again on Monday but she did not show up for the court proceedings.”
Lieutenant Colonel Shilumbu said the fact that the accused soldier did not show up for civilian court proceedings will have to be dealt with by the Namibian Police and the Magistrate’s Court.
“In the meantime the private has been brought up on disciplinary charges according to military law and internal policies of the NDF.”
Lieutenant Colonel Shilumbu said the private will definitely face an internal disciplinary hearing on several charges for transgressing the military code of conduct because she was wearing her NDF uniform when she committed the crime she is accused of in the civilian court.
A video of the soldier in question shows staff members from the shop in which she was caught displaying the stolen items.
