Allexer Namundjembo
A Usakos resident, Melvin Areseb, is suing the Namibian Police for N$3 million after claiming he was unlawfully arrested, assaulted, and abandoned by police officers.
His lawyers, Sisa Namandje & Co. Inc., set out the allegations in a letter of demand dated 19 September 2025 to inspector general Joseph Shikongo.
The letter states that in August, Areseb was taken from his home in Usakos by warrant officer Jonas Flai, Constable Raphael Kaundu, and Constable Willem Jantze.
“It is apparent that the members of the Namibian police arrived at our client’s residence at around 03:00 am, while our client and his family were long asleep. Your officials then proceeded, in a ferocious manner, to remove our client from his bedroom whilst handcuffed, assaulted him in a vicious manner and then loaded him into a police van,” the letter reads.
Areseb was allegedly beaten inside the van on the way to Usakos Police Station.
According to reports, he was released the next morning and dropped along the B1 road in Usakos, where he was told to hitchhike back to Spitzkoppe.
When he returned home, he complained of severe pain and was rushed to Usakos State Hospital.
He was later transferred to Katutura State Hospital for urgent surgery.
Areseb has since been readmitted to Usakos State Hospital due to complications from the injuries.
His lawyers say one of his testicles and several internal organs were severely damaged.
“Kindly be advised that section 39 notice is therefore hereby given that unless our client is immediately compensated in that amount within 30 days, we shall proceed to institute a civil claim against the concerned police officers and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, and the Inspector General of the Police Force,” the letter warns.
The three police officers implicated in the matter were arrested and granted bail of N$5 000 each by the Usakos Magistrate’s Court.
They face charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The Namibian Police have faced previous accusations of brutality. In 2020, the family of Simon Andreas sued after he allegedly died in custody following an assault in Windhoek.
Social activist Michael Amushelelo is also suing the police for N$10 million after being jailed following his arrest on 21 March 2023.
He was acquitted of all charges on Thursday after spending nearly seven months in prison for alleged public violence, malicious damage to property, and violating a court order during a protest against youth unemployment on 21 March 2023.
