Namibian police on Thursday denied helping South African President Cyril Ramaphosa cover up an embarrassing case of burglary at one of his properties.
Cyril Ramaphosa, 69, is the subject of a complaint filed in early June by the former South African intelligence chief, Arthur Fraser, who accuses him of having concealed from the police and the tax authorities this burglary during which, according to him, the thieves would have left with the equivalent of 3.8 million euros in cash which were hidden in furniture.
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The president, at the head of a large personal fortune, admitted that money had been stolen from him, but disputes the amount announced.
He denies ever stealing an agent from anyone and has spoken out against
'dirty tricks'
and
'intimidation'.
Arthur Fraser said his complaint accused Cyril Ramaphosa
of "obstructing justice"
and of having organized
"the kidnapping of the suspects"
and
"their interrogation on his property"
before bribing them to ensure their silence.
According to recent news reports, the prime suspect in the burglary case, identified as Imanuwela David, a Namibian-born South African, has accused Namibian police of arresting and torturing him.
“We refute the allegations of torture and abduction of the suspect, Imanuwela David,”
Namibian police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga said in a statement on Thursday, also denying having done
“dirty work on behalf of President Ramaphosa.” .
Already on Friday, Namibian President Hage Geingob denied that his country had helped his South African counterpart to kidnap and torture a suspect linked to the burglary of his farm to deliver him to Cyril Ramaphosa.
The theft case puts Cyril Ramaphosa, who has made the fight against corruption his hobbyhorse, in difficulty, as he seeks to be invested by his party to seek a new mandate in the presidential election of 2024.