Staff Reporter
A 60-YEAR-OLD man from Omaruru was allegedly abducted and robbed on Wednesday by five men, of whom three were impersonating police officers.
It is alleged that one of the suspects came to the victim’s house asking for assistance. The suspect claimed that there was a language barrier between him and another man that he was doing business with. He therefore needed someone to translate.
The victim agreed to assist the man and accompanied him to the truck next to the church where the other man was.
In another street, they found another man who claimed that he was Kavango-speaking and also required assistance with translation. The man had a small bag with him.
While the victim was assisting the Kavango-speaking man, a Silver Polo pulled up and the other two men ran away.
Three men, who identified themselves as undercover police officers, got out of the car and accused the victim and the other man of engaging in “dirty deals”.
They then proceeded to search the small bag and found fake diamonds. The men were accused of being in possession of diamonds and instructed to get into the vehicle for detention at the Karibib police holding cells.
The three men then threatened the victim with arrest unless he agreed to pay N$80 000. The victim told the men that he only had N$50 000 and he was taken to Standard Bank in Omaruru, where he withdrew the money.
The suspects drove off after dropping the victim at the TransNamib railway. However, their getaway vehicle was intercepted by police on the Kalkfeld road after the victim reported the matter to the police.
The police found the victim’s money and three different number plates in the suspects’ car. The car was impounded and the three suspects, aged 38, 40 and 43, were arrested. The two other suspects are still at large.
The Namibian Police stated that the matter is still under investigation and the suspects will make their first court appearance on Friday, 18 February.
