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Namibian Diamond Co. Suspends CEO, COO After Deadly Heist
Namib Desert Diamonds also put its security manager on leave following last month’s robbery that left one employee dead.
The board of Namib Desert Diamonds has suspended CEO Alisa Amupolo, Chief Operations Officer Uahoroka Kauta, and Security Manager Paulinus Sheyapo following the Jan. 18 armed robbery at its headquarters in Windhoek, Namibia.
Windhoek, Namibia— Namib Desert Diamonds, also known as Namdia, has suspended three top executives following an armed robbery at its headquarters that resulted in the shooting death of a security guard and a reported $19 million in losses.
On Monday, the company announced that its board passed a resolution over the weekend to suspend CEO Alisa Amupolo, Chief Operations Officer Uahoroka Kauta, and Paulinus Sheyapo, the manager of security.
The board appointed Lelly Usiku to serve as interim CEO to ensure “business continuity.”
An economist by training, Usiku is head of the diamond company’s market development, sales, and branding operations, and has stepped in as interim CEO before.
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On Monday, the company announced that its board passed a resolution over the weekend to suspend CEO Alisa Amupolo, Chief Operations Officer Uahoroka Kauta, and Paulinus Sheyapo, the manager of security.
The board appointed Lelly Usiku to serve as interim CEO to ensure “business continuity.”
An economist by training, Usiku is head of the diamond company’s market development, sales, and branding operations, and has stepped in as interim CEO before.
The robbery happened in the early evening hours of Jan. 18 when several individuals, allegedly aided on the inside by one of the company’s employees, entered Namdia’s headquarters in the Namibian capital of Windhoek.
Gunfire broke out during the robbery and two individuals were killed—58-year-old Francis “Gosh” Eiseb, a Namdia security guard who had been with the company since 2019, and one of the suspects, Max Endjala.
Two individuals have been arrested and charged in the case, including the Namdia security guard who allegedly served as the mastermind behind the robbery.
Namdia has said little publicly about the details of the crime, including the value of the diamonds stolen, and repeatedly has postponed a joint press conference with Namibia police.
On Monday, the board said the decision to suspend its CEO, COO, and security manager was “not taken lightly,” but felt it was the right decision to prevent any questions being asked about the integrity of the investigation and the process of recovering the stolen diamonds.
“At this stage, we have no reason to suspect any Namdia employees apart from the suspect already in custody. The Namdia board has decided to take this urgent precautionary step in the business’ best interests, as well as to protect the integrity of both the executives and the investigation,” the board said.
“As we chart a course through these tragic events, the investigation and recovery process must be concluded as quickly as possible.”
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