Staff Reporter
THE Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has said that the actions of the police reservist member, Valentino Endjala, who was captured on video dragging his pregnant girlfriend around by the hair, are a disgrace to the Namibian police force.
He added that despite the difficult situation the pregnant girlfriend endured at the hands of the 26-year-old Endjala, the victim has declined to open a police case.
“The Namibian police has internal mechanisms, which is called Police Conduct and Investigating (PCI) directorate. They have investigated and found that the behaviour is disgraceful. This is a serious misconduct with regard to our organization. We went to look at all the provisions of the law, and indeed the inspector general is empowered in terms of the law, my decision is not due to pressure from public outcry, but Constable Valentino Endjala has been discharged from the Namibian police. He is not fit to be a police officer. His conduct within the public domain has created public distrust,” Shikongo said.
He added that the video of Endjala abusing his pregnant partner went viral on social media on 28 October.
“The video went viral on the 28th and we took some measures. ‘Whether or not the pregnant girlfriend opened a case, the situation is just not good. It is a disgrace to the Namibian police force. It is my stern warning today to any police officer involving themselves in such disgraceful actions will be dealt with. The Girlfriend does not want to open a case. This is the problem we have in our society, where members of the community are abused by family and loved ones and keep quiet,’ Shikongo said.”
In the wake of the incident, Shikongo said that the Namibian police led a crime prevention operation this week. “When people saw me in Eveline Street yesterday, they were all ululating, and said that they do not fear me when they see me. That is how every police officer should be perceived. I’m urging members of the public not to lose faith in law enforcement. We have awareness campaigns; anyone involved in domestic violence should stop it, and those who are the victims should report it. We should stop hiding what is happening domestically,” Shikongo concluded.
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