Rundu — Tasked with the responsibility of keeping the court premises clean, a cleaner at the Rundu Magistrate's Court allegedly started a syndicate in which he accepted bribes to steal control documents of traffic fines issued.

Police kept a close eye on the activities of the suspect Bernard Eiseb (44) for some time before he was arrested last week. He made his first court appearance on Friday facing charges over his illegal transactions.

He faces a charge of theft and another for being in possession of cannabis after suspected stolen government property and cannabis were found in his bedroom during a police raid.

Seibeb allegedly accepted bribes to steal duplicate traffic tickets issued to road users from the court. He was found in possession of control traffic fine tickets worth N$186 070 hidden in a zinc basin in a kitchen at the court.

Perpetrators allegedly approached Seibeb to steal the control documents from the court files once an arrest warrant had been issued by a magistrate. He allegedly stole the documents and destroyed them after receiving payment.

When the control documents are not available, arrest warrants of offenders cannot be executed and therefore nullified. Other state property such as cleaning materials, mops, notice boards and banners were also found in his bedroom.

During his first court appearance before Control Magistrate William Kasitomo, Seibeb chose to conduct his own defence. His case was remanded to March 3 to allow the police to investigate.