Magistrate arrested for allegedly refusing to present driver licence to police

A 48-year-old magistrate was arrested at Otjiwarongo on Friday for allegedly refusing to hand over his driver’s licence at a police roadblock.

Namibian Police Force spokesperson in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said the magistrate was arrested by a team of traffic officers in Henk Willlemse Street around 23h11.

“He was arrested after the police officers on duty stopped him and asked for his driver’s licence. He allegedly replied that he would not hand it over until they told him the reason they needed it for,” said Mbeha.

The magistrate, who works in the region, allegedly also informed the officers that he was only willing to produce his driver licence for the most senior police officer since he himself was a magistrate, Mbeha added.

The suspect was escorted to the Otjiwarongo Police Station where he was detained and later arrested, she said.

On Saturday, he was granted bail of N.dollars 2 000 after the Otjozondjupa Region’s crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Edinah Nawa, was called to the police station to view the valid driver licence.

The magistrate is expected to appear in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court this week on a traffic charge.

Police investigations continue.

Source: NAMPA