PG probes case of a man shot by Police

 By Risco Lumamezi

THE Prosecutor General has looked into the mat­ter of Mr. Victor Tutangane (40)who was shot by police at Singalamwe border post on July 12, 2010.

Ms. Olyvia Martha Imalwa, prosecutor general who was re-appointed by the President of the Republic of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba on recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission as Prosecutor-General of Namibia for a period of 7 years with effect from 1 January 2014,was in Katima Mulilo last month as part of her regional visit to look into the other pending criminal cases told Caprivi Vision that, her office has taken the case of Mr. Tutangane though she described it as a civil case that still need proper investigations.

Asked what will happen to the accused police officer who shot Mr. Tutangane “this is still some allegations but the decision has already taken but we still need to inform the person first before going to the public”

Mr. Tutangane , a resident of Mwanzi village at Singalamwe area of Zambezi region was allegedly shot by the police during an ambush, has received legal representation to fight his case but all was in vain after he was advised that the case or his payment claims elapsed.

Singalamwe is situated 140 km in the west of the region.

Following numerous failed attempts to get legal assistance since 2010, Ministry of Justice confirmed to Caprivi Vision that Mr. Tutangane was granted a legal Aid Lawyer Mr. Kruger Van Vuuren to defend his case number is 69/07/2010 which was opened and closed without any trial.

Mr. Tutangane, who is now rendered disable, was allegedly shot on his left foot by Mr. Jekonia Erick Haipinge, a Police Officer, on July 12, 2010, while on his way to Singalamwe Border Post upon his return from Zambia.

It is alleged that the Police who were hiding in bushes shot him from his front as the bullet went straight in his left leg, while he was approaching the border, to get his border pass stamped.

Mr. Tutangane, had requested Prosecutor General Imalwa to look into his case, in his bid to get compen­sated for his injuries at the hands of the police officer.

Mr. Tutangane walks difficultly as he walks on sticks, following the near fatal incident, which he described to the newspaper that “through a lot of pain and suffering, the investigations of his case that did not bear any fruits for him.”

He said that he still doesn’t understand why he had initially received a letter that his case was declined by the Deputy Prosecutor General who preferred to be referred to as Mr.H.K Haindobo in Rundu.

Mr Tutangane alleged that his case was declined without his knowl­edge and is now questioning why Mr. Haipinge did not stand before the court of law to identify who was wrong.

A Namrights Defender for Para legal in Kavango Region, Mr. Leopold Mnakapa who has been handling Mr. Tutangane ‘s case since 2010 ,expressed concerns that the case has just took long without any trial.