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ACC arrests senior cops, ex-principal for alleged corruption

Handyman and school administrator also nabbed
The latest ACC arrests include a man who was out on bail for a similar offence allegedly committed last year.
STAFF REPORTER
Three senior police officers, including a deputy commissioner, were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) last week for allegedly soliciting bribes amounting to N$25,000 from a local businesswoman.

The accused, arrested on Wednesday last week, include Rector Sandema (51), a deputy commissioner, and two detective senior inspectors, Martin Basson (56) and Johannes Anghuwo (49). According to the ACC, the trio allegedly demanded bribes from the businesswoman between 01 May and 29 July 2024, promising to assist her in recovering a motor vehicle that was reportedly stolen under false pretenses. The vehicle case was under active investigation by the Namibian Police at the time.

The officers appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges of contravening Section 43 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 (Act No. 8 of 2003) for “corruptly using office or position for gratification.”

The court denied them bail, citing concerns about potential interference with the ongoing investigation and emphasising that releasing them would not serve the interests of justice. The case has been postponed to 7 March 2025 for a bail hearing.

Ex-principal nabbed

In a separate case, Richard Geiseb (51), a former Principal at Kolin Foundation Secondary School in Arandis, was detained on 17 February 2025 over allegations of misappropriating public funds, fraud, theft, and money laundering. An investigation that began in 2017 accused Geiseb of issuing cheques to institutional workers, who then allegedly cashed and shared the money, potentially using forged signatures. The total amount involved in the charges is N$320 000. Geiseb, who was released on N$50,000 bail, is set to return to court this Friday.

School administrator in court

Another individual implicated in corruption is Anna Nuwuseb (46), an administrative officer at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School, who was arrested on 6 February 2025 following an investigation into allegations that she accepted bribes totaling N$8,280 to facilitate school admissions. Payments ranged from N$400 to N$1,000 per individual, ACC said. Nuwuseb was granted bail of N$5,000 at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court and is scheduled to return to court on 17 March 2025.



Government handyman arrested, again

ACC also arrested Kefas Amutenya (47), a handyman in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, on 21 January 2025 for allegedly demanding a bribe of N$300 to connect a water meter for a community member in Etuli village, Oshikoto Region. This marks his second arrest for bribery, following a similar charge in April 2024. At the time of his latest arrest, Amutenya was out on bail of N$2,000. During his appearance at the Ondangwa Magistrate Court on 22 January 2025, he was denied bail, and his case has been postponed to 16 July 2025 for further investigation.

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-03

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