PDM theft case confirmed
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has opened a case of housebreaking with the Namibian Police after its office in Windhoek was allegedly broken into in February.
This was confirmed by police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi.
Shikwambi said the charges include housebreaking with intent to steal and theft on business premises between Friday, 18 February 2022 at an unknown time and Monday, 21 February 2022 at about 08h00 at no 16 Mozart Street, PDM office,
Windhoek.
“It is alleged that the suspect broke open the fence of the gate and directly went to an office, alleged to be the finance office thereby breaking the office door and gaining entry and taking two laptops,” Shikwambi said.
The office has neither an alarm system nor close circuit television (CCTV) surveillance while “the camera in the same street shows an opposite direction”.
So far, no arrests or recoveries have been made. Police investigations into the matter continue.
This came to light after Nampa queried PDM's treasurer general Nico Smit last week, on the state of the party's finances at the back of allegations by party insiders that party funds are being abused with impunity.
“We are clearly in the dark about the party's finances and one day, when people come to ask for the financial position of the party, we will not be able to answer,” said a party insider.
Another source said: “Money is being 'eaten' at this party.”
Smit flatly denied the allegations, saying his office could not provide financial statements to the party's leadership as significant data vanished with the stolen computers.
“They broke into our offices and stole the computer with all the data… for two years, all the data is gone,” he said.
PDM is run on sound financial principles, Smit maintained, noting it is among the few political entities in good standing with the Electoral Commission.