A SENIOR police officer, deputy commissioner Rector Sandema Sandema, was arrested with two of his colleagues to face corruption charges. Sandema made headlines for receiving a N$350 000 business loan from the now defunct SME Bank while he was supposed to be investigating claims of fraud, theft and money laundering at the bank.
However, last week’s arrest had nothing to do with the SME Bank or his conduct in that matter. He was arrested on Wednesday on charges of abusing office to obtain gratification with two colleagues. Sandema’s co-accused are senior detective inspectors Martin Basson and Johannes Anghuwo. The three are each facing two counts under the Anti-Corruption Act. They are being charged for abusing their positions to solicit and receive N$25 000 from Selma Petrus, a businesswoman.
Law enforcement sources told The Issue that Sandema took N$17 000 of the loot while Basson allegedly received N$3 500 and Anghuwo N$2 500. It is alleged after police frustrated Petrus, she turned to Sandema to help resolve things, only for him to allegedly swindle her out of money. Interestingly, Anghuwo is currently investigating former deputy information minister Engel Nawatiseb for allegedly defrauding the SME Bank. Court documents state that the three, between 16 May and 29 June last year, conspired to defraud Petrus, a crime that is also in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act. They are also being charged for instructing someone else to commit offences contravening the Anti-Corruption Act. Sandema is listed as accused number one in the case.
In a media statement, the graft-busting body said the three officers solicited bribes from the businesswoman. She lost her motor vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, in a theft under false pretences case. The car appears to have been recovered but then impounded by police.
In an effort to get the car released to her, Petrus fell victim to what appears to be an extortion ring run by the three police officials. The three appeared on Friday morning in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court. Magistrate Monica Andjamba denied the trio bail due to fear that they might interfere with ongoing investigations. They are set to appear in court on Friday for bail considerations. Police have yet to take any actions against Sandema for his conduct around the SME Bank saga.
During October 2015, Sandema was the head of the police anti-money laundering unit falling under the commercial crimes investigations division. An anonymous letter with compelling information detailing theft, fraud, maladministration, and money laundering at the now defunct SME Bank was delivered to the division. Sandema, as the person responsible for investigating money laundering-related cases, started looking into the allegations made in the letter.
He even made contact with the SME Bank executives but failed to open a formal case. The case was only registered about 12 months later by then Bank of Namibia head of banking supervision, Romeo Nel, during November 2016. Before the central bank’s decision to register the criminal case, during August 2017, Sandema received a N$350 000 loan from the same bank he was supposed to be investigating through his company Shower Investments.
