The Erongo police on Thursday clarified details surrounding the recovery of a damaged bakkie involved in the missing person case of Omaruru resident Robby Michael (53).
The vehicle was found submerged in the sea at the Mile 72 camping area, about 40 kilometres north of Henties Bay, on Sunday morning.
There have been speculations and rumours regarding the vehicle’s condition, prompting police to issue a statement.
“We took note of other pictures circulating on different platforms and wish to explain that the additional damages on the vehicle occurred while towing it from the sea. The area is rocky, and the sea tide has remained high. The team worked hard to remove the vehicle from the water for about 6 hours,” explained Erongo police spokesperson inspector Ileni Shapumba.
“We acknowledge inputs and advice from the public, with some suggesting that the vehicle was involved in an accident elsewhere.”
He urged the community to have “trust and confidence in us as we are investigating the matter with the seriousness it deserves” while acknowledging that the police value the input and advice from the public.
The search for Michael is still ongoing. Fears are that he might have drowned.
“No new development in the case. The sea tide was high until yesterday. The investigation team has also searched the whole area and has not spotted any evidence that suggests that the victim might have walked away from the area,” he said.
Police are also investigating a person of interest, who was found with fishing rods suspected to belong to Michael.
“We are investigating how he got hold of them,” added Shapumba.
While the police continue to comb the area and explore all leads, they are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that might assist in locating Michael or explaining the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
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