President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has lauded late police officer Chief Inspector Riche Karel ||Naobeb for an exemplary career.

A memorial service was held on Wednesday in Windhoek for the chief inspector, who died on the 24th of August while on duty in Rundu, in the Kavango East Region, following a short illness at the age of 49.

The late Chief Inspector ||Naobeb served as head of the Presidential Escort Subdivision in the Office of the President.

The President, in her tribute to him, said ||Naobeb embodied patriotism and diligently pursued law and justice.

She was represented by the Executive Director in the President's Private Office, Ambassador Neville Gertze.

"Chief Inspector ||Naobeb was a dedicated police officer who served for 19 years in the VVIP Directorate, serving the five Heads of State of the Republic of Namibia. He had the interest of his colleagues and all members of society at heart as an exemplary and professional police officer who always served with a smile on his face."

||Naobeb started his career in 1999, when he joined the Namibian Defence Force at the Osona Military Base. 

From 2002 to 2006, he was deployed to serve the Military Police as a Presidential Motorbike Rider and later transferred to NAMPOL as a Presidential Motorbike Rider for Founding President Sam Nujoma.

He participated in Operation Mandume in 1999 at Katima Mulilo and Rundu, among his other exploits. 

Another memorial service will be held in ||Naobeb's hometown of Otjiwarongo on Friday, followed by the funeral on Saturday.

He leaves behind a widow, Theresia, and two children.