• By Marx Itamalo

THE police in Ohangwena have warned members of the public to be vigilant following the arrest of two suspects who were found in possession of fake bank notes on Monday. The suspects aged 29 and 36 years old respectively were arrested at Oshikango on Monday after they allegedly to use fake notes to buy alcohol at a well known drinking spot at Oshikango.

Ohangwena police spokesperson warrant officer Andreas Nghiyolwa has appealed to members of the public especially business people to be cautious when dealing with Namibian bank notes as it emerged that the suspects are part of a syndicate which also involves women.

“We want to caution members of the public more specifically business people in the informal trade to scrutinize bank notes
they receive from their customers because there are bank notes circulating in the region,”Nghiyolwa told Confidente on Wednesday.
According to him, the suspects, both male, approached the outlet in question and requested drinks. After receiving the drinks, one suspect allegedly paid with a fakeN$ 200 note. The bar tender is said to have detected the note and clan- destinely called the owner of the business who in turn called the police. The suspects were arrested and upon searching them, the police discovered a bunch of fake notes comprising of N$ 50, N$ 100 and N$ 200 worth N$ 6400.

“They were interrogated and our members discovered they were part of a syndicate which manufactures fake bank notes and that they are operating in Oshikango, Eenhana and Ohangwena. That means we have a lot of fake bank notes in circulation in the region and beyond. Therefore, I would like to call upon members of the public to be on the lookout when dealing with bank notes, especially in Oshikango, Ohangwena and Eenhana,” he said.

The suspects appeared in the Ohangwena magistrate court on Tuesday where they were denied bail. Meanwhile, businesswoman
Sarah Nghede told Confidente that she was also a victim of fake bank notes and made a loss of N$ 600 after one customer bought goat meat worth N$ 600 with fake N$ 200 notes. The meat businesswoman stressed that on Saturday last week, a woman came at her business premises where she slaughters and sell raw goat meat and kapana.

“The woman did not find me there but only my Angolan helper.

She bought meat worth N$ 600 and she paid with three fake N$ 200. When I returned, my employee handed the money she had collected and I discovered that three N$ 200 were fake. She then told me a young woman bought meat and paid with the notes. I think she took advantage of the fact that Angolans do not know well the features of our notes,” she stressed whilst imploring fellow business people to always be vigilant when receiving bank notes from suspicious customers.

Oshikango police station commander chief inspector Henock Hiyonanye told Confidente that the police in the town will arrest, detain and interrogate anyone who will be found in possession of fake bank notes.

“Having fake bank notes contravenes our laws and everyone who will be found with fake notes will be arrested and be questioned. Ofcourse, someone can have them (fake notes) without realizing they are fake, but we will question anyone who will be found with them.

If we get to know that the person(s) deliberately possess the notes with the aim of cheating the public, we will arrest them and have them appear in the court of law. Thus I want to make this call and issue this warning to members of the public not to make themselves guilty of this crime,” he warned.