Questions remain about a drunken driving case involving the son of Nampol’s second in command Deputy Inspector General Vilho Nghifindaka, who reportedly avoided being detained for drunk driving, following alleged back door interventions by the Major General.

Simon Nghifindaka, age unknown, was charged under CR 539/06/2012 following his arrest along Windhoek’s Florence Nightingale Drive, in the early hours (00h40) of Saturday 23 June 2012 for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, following a breathalyser reading of 0.58. Simon Nghifindaka, who was over the legal alcohol limit of 0.37, was in the company of two companions, one of whom, Cornelius Stefanus was also arrested on the scene for obstruction of justice and crimen injuria (CR 540/06/2012) for causing a scuffle with police officers arresting the younger Nghifindaka.
According to witnesses, the Deputy Inspector General in the company of Detective Sergeant Alphons of the Windhoek Central police station came to the aid of his son during the taking of the blood sample at the Katutura state hospital. After a brief conversation with the younger Nghifindaka, the deputy Inspector General is reported to have shouted at arresting officers. “He came and asked his son the reasons for his arrest, to which he replied that the police are alleging that he was intoxicated. He then asked him if he was drunk and the son replied ‘no.’ After that the Major General started shouting, labeling us as stupid and incompetent before leaving,” says a police witness who was at the hospital.
Nghifindaka was then taken to the Katutura police station where a case of drunken driving was opened. According to sources at the police station, Nghifindaka, with the help of Detective Sergeant Alfons posted bail and was allowed to leave the police station before all the paper work needed to release him was completed. “The case was not fully registered and the docket was not finalised, which is a requirement before any suspect pays bail,” said another police officer, known to Informanté. The younger Nghifindaka, after having had his fingerprints taken, paid bail of N$4 000 and appeared in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court the following Monday, 25 June 2012.
Asked whether Deputy Inspector General Nghifindaka could have tasked Detective Sergeant in make sure that the younger Nghifindaka was immediately released, Informanté’s sources replied that “it might be the case. If not, why would a Detective Sergeant, who is stationed at the Windhoek Central station, come all the way at that time of the morning to assist Nghifindaka, while leaving his companion Stefanus behind in prison?” the source asked.
Major General Ngifindaka, upon hearing of Informante’s enquiry into the matter over the past week, contacted Informanté and denied any involvement in the matter, adding that he was at no stage involved as he was not at the police station. Neither the Deputy Inspector General, who is said to be out of the office until next week Monday nor Detective Sergeant Alphons could be reached for comment by the time of going to print.