Probe into inmate suicideFollowing the suicide of an inmate charged with attempted murder, an investigation has been launched after allegations of foul play were made. Ugly allegations levelled at Ondangwa police The Oshana police are investigating the suicide at the Ondangwa police station’s holding cells last week. Ugly allegations have been levelled that the incident on 27 September was in fact a murder and that it was staged to look as a suicide because the victim was related to a police officer.
These allegations were rubbished by the acting regional commander for Oshana, Commissioner Karel Theron. Theron told Namibian Sun that the regional commander for Oshana, Commissioner Rauha Amwele who is currently the gold commander for Etosha Rhino Anti-Poaching Unit had tasked a team to investigate the matter before she left the region for Etosha.
“When this happened, the regional commander was present and she tasked officers from relevant units to carry out an investigation on the matter. We are calling on anybody with information to come forward to the regional commander’s office and give us the information they have,” Theron said.
Theron continued that an incident of this nature could not be covered up or left unattended.
It is reported that the late Naule was arrested on Sunday evening, 25 September after his 26-year-old girlfriend, Petrina Thomas, was stabbed 14 times in her room. He was due to appear before the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court when he committed suicide in the police holding cells.
Commissioner Amwele earlier told Namibian Sun that, Naule was found hanging in the holding cell after he was taken to be charged at the charge office and returned to wait for his appearance before the magistrate. Amwele said he was not charged the same day he was arrested, but was only charged two days later.
“On the morning of 27 September, Naule and other inmates were taken to the charge office to be charged before they could appear in court. After they were charged, police officers took the other inmates to court, while Naule was taken to a holding cell alone. When the officers went back to fetch him for his appearance, he was found hanging in the cell, dead. He hanged himself using his trouser’s drawstring.” Amwele said
Naule who hailed from Ohalumbele village in the Onesi Constituency of the Omusati Region allegedly stabbed Thomas 14 times in a quarrel over missing condoms on 25 September.
From what could be gleaned, Naule travelled to Ondangwa on Sunday 25 September to visit Thomas at her rented room in the Omashaka informal settlement. There they began to quarrel over condoms that he had left in the room the previous night, which were apparently gone. It is alleged that Thomas could not provide a satisfactory explanation and he allegedly stabbed her 14 times all over her body.
Thomas who works in a minimarket near Omashaka was admitted in Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital and was treated. The police reported that she was discharged on Tuesday.
Naule was arrested the same night and detained at Ondangwa police holding cells. Family members told Namibian Sun that they were not briefed as to how Naule died or what happened and on the death certificate they say there is no cause of death provided. They say they are planning to go and meet the Ondangwa police station commander today to hear what happened.
The doctor’s examination report is only indicating that Naule’s cause of death was hanging. Specimens sent to South Africa for examination will take time.