Namdia Suspends Top Executives Amid Ongoing Robbery Investigation. The board of Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has suspended Chief Executive Officer Alisa Amupolo, Chief Operations Officer Uahoroka Kauta, and Security Manager Paulinus Sheyapo following a diamond heist that resulted in losses worth approximately N$350 million.
According to the board, chaired by Justus Hausiku, the suspensions stem from the executives’ failure to act on a prior police warning about a potential robbery. The heist occurred on 18 January, leading to the tragic deaths of Namdia’s security chief, Francis Eiseb, and one of the suspected robbers, Max Endjala.
To ensure business continuity, the board has appointed Lelly Usiku as interim CEO. Usiku, an economist with extensive experience at Namdia, has previously stepped into the leadership role when needed.
Namdia has launched an internal investigation to examine the events leading up to the robbery, aiming to strengthen security measures and prevent future breaches. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues its search for additional suspects. Two individuals, Sam Shololo and Joel Angula, have already appeared in court and remain in custody on charges of armed robbery and murder.
In a statement, the board emphasized that the decision to suspend the executives was made to uphold the integrity of the ongoing investigation. It clarified that, apart from the suspects in custody, no other Namdia employees are currently under suspicion. The board views the suspensions as a necessary precaution to ensure transparency and accountability.
Namdia has assured stakeholders that it is committed to concluding the investigation swiftly and reinforcing security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The board remains focused on maintaining the company’s operational stability while cooperating fully with authorities.