A tyre dealer in Windhoek is reportedly stealing tyres and then selling them for a profit.

In a recent case the owner Ruben Sheehama was found to have stolen two tyres that belong to Trustco Group International in Windhoek.

Sheehama however denies the allegations that he sold the tyres. “I did not steal the tyres. I bought them at the dumpsite in Windhoek. I normally buy second-hand tyres from the dumpsite and then I sell them,” he claims.

A charge of theft (CR 386/05/2012) was laid against Sheehama, but the case has since been withdrawn, because Sheehama and his lawyer returned the missing tyres.

Carol Williams from a Windhoek-based legal firm says Andreas Vaats and Partners’ law firm requested the case to be withdrawn. An e-mail written in May to Trustco Group International they said: “We today attended on your office at approximately 16h30 and returned the two tyres that were missing. We consider this matter as finalised and would appreciate it if you would provide us with your “Withdrawal Statement” in respect of the criminal case.”

A former worker at Trustco Group International, Joseph Naluwe, also confirmed the news. “Sheehama first denied taking the tyres, but he later brought them back and then we decided to withdraw the case. I signed the final withdrawal statement myself,” Naluwe says.

Efraim Ashipa, an employee at Trustco Group International says that he noticed that the tyres were missing. “The tyres normally stay on the truck, but on that day they were not there,” he recalls. Naluwe adds that he and Ashipa sent out a request, offering a N$500 reward to anyone who has information on the whereabouts of the missing tyres.

Ashipa says that someone come forward with information. “He described the way that the man was dressed and we rushed off to the gate controller, who directed us to the man’s residence.”

“We found the house and the man dressed as described. He was very rude and denied seeing or taking the tyres. I went to get the police while Naluwe waited there. The police officers searched the place, but found nothing,” Ashipa says.

Ashipa further says that a few weeks after the theft a lady came to see him claiming that Sheehama is a relative of hers and that he has the tyres. Informanté has it on good grounds that she also made a statement at the police station and that her uncle has since evicted her from the house for telling on him.