The Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) have arrested and charged seven police recruits for forgery and uttering after they were found to have allegedly forged the qualifications that enabled them to be accepted for a 12-month training course in the force last year. NAMPOL spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi confirmed this to NAMPA in a recent interview, saying the seven recruits were supposed to have graduated from the Police Training College by now to become full-time police officers. She said they were arrested in July this year and charged with forgery and uttering for contravening the Public Service Staff Rule No. 5 and section 77 of the Education Act No. 16 of 2001. She said the recruits were caught after NAMPOL’s Human Resources Directorate forwarded the applicants’ qualifications to the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in order for them to determine the authenticity of the qualifications for the final recruitment processes. “Upon finalisation by the ministry, the police Human Resources Directorate was then notified that the ministry discovered that seven recruits’ qualifications were forged, six male and one female,” said Shikwambi. She added that the recruits were released after paying bail ranging between N$1 000 and N$2 000 while police investigations are ongoing. The seriousness of the offence committed warranted their immediate discharge from the force. The deputy commissioner discouraged the forging of qualifications to obtain employment, stressing that the discovery of the suspects is evidence that government has working systems in place. “Whosoever attempts to apply fraudulently will be dealt with, thereby tarnishing their reputation and future,” she said. Last year, the Ministry of Safety and Security required eligible candidates for cadet constable positions in the police force to have a Grade 12 certificate with at least 30 points. This was followed by 12 months of training, with priority given to those with higher tertiary qualifications in relevant fields, unlike previously when applicants only needed 25 points in Grade 12 and six months of training. -NAMPA