Raft suspects freed

Raft suspects freed A couple arrested in connection with a bizarre robbery incident in which the much-loved Raft Restaurant in Walvis Bay lost a large amount of cash, have been released from custody due to a lack of evidence.

State prosecutor Theresia Hafeni instructed the police to investigate further.

There was no confession and warning statements submitted, indicating that both suspects have opted to remain silent.

Should further evidence emerge, the case will be placed back on the court roll. The investigation is thus ongoing.

The female suspect was facing perjury, robbery and housebreaking charges, while her spouse faced robbery and housebreaking charges.

Initially, Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu confirmed the police were investigating a robbery that occurred last Tuesday at around 13:00 at the corner of 7th Road and Theo-Ben Gurirab Street in Walvis Bay.

“An unknown suspect allegedly smashed the passenger-side window of a vehicle and grabbed a handbag containing N$56 238.35, which was on the passenger seat. He jumped into a taxi and escaped from the scene,” Iikuyu said at the time.

He also explained the stolen money belonged to the Raft Restaurant and was to have been banked.

“Nothing was recovered and no arrests were made. The investigation to trace the taxi and the suspect is ongoing,” Iikuyu said.

Video footage of a man wearing a mask and smashing a car window was obtained.

Information also then surfaced that the burglary had occurred at the restaurant and was committed by four individuals wearing masks.

There was nothing in the female suspect's warning statement that indicated she admitted in any way that she was involved in the crime. There was also no other evidence to back this up.

In a second crime update, also released last Tuesday, Iikuyu announced that the female suspect was to be charged with perjury, after she allegedly gave a false statement under oath that she was robbed.

She was subsequently arrested on Friday for robbery and was charged later in the day along with her husband.

She also faced charges of housebreaking with the intent to steal and theft.

According to Iikuyu she allegedly broke an office window at the Raft Restaurant, entered the premises and removed a safe with N$6 000 cash in it and two business files, without the consent of the owner.

“Only one file has been recovered thus far and investigations to trace the outstanding suspects and recover the outstanding stolen items continue,” Iikuyu said.

OTIS FINCK