A former police officer, Joel Ochurub (43) and three minors were arrested in the early morning hours on Monday after they allegedly poached two zebras in the vicinity of Valencia northeast of Arandis. The arrest took place after a police chase which lasted close to four hours.

The incident was confirmed by Detective Chief Inspector Jatikua Tjiramba, Acting Regional Crime Investigations Co-ordinator for Erongo. According to Tjiramba members of the police on patrol noticed a “suspicious vehicle” on the B2 highway close to the turn-off to Valencia Mine on Sunday evening at about 23:00. “When they stopped and turned around the suspicious vehicle sped off on the highway heading towards the coast,” Tjiramba said. The suspects were driving a white Isuzu Double-Cab bakkie with registration N81441W.
A high-speed chase ensured which lasted a few hours. In an attempt to escape the suspects turned off on the left side of the highway and headed towards the Khan River. “Close to the old Khan mine the suspects got stuck in the thick sand,” Tjiramba said. It was there that the police finally caught up to them. On the back of the bakkie officers found flour bags, one of which was covered in blood. A blood trail from the vehicle led to a bush on the river bank. Two zebra carcasses were hidden there, which were allegedly poached only a few hours earlier. It is suspected that the animals were killed close to a water hole in the area of Valencia. The arrests took place at about 03:00 on Monday morning. In the car the police recovered “a few knives” as well as a silencer. No weapons were found though.
The former police officer held the rank of Constable until his resignation about ten years ago. He was stationed in Arandis and was still residing in the town. Ochurub and the three minors appeared in the magistrates’ court on Tuesday this week. While Ochurub was released on bail of N$3 000 the minors were released into the care of their guardians. They are charged with hunting of special protected game. The case was postponed until 12 October for further investigations.