WINDHOEK – In what turned out to be a very confusing situation two youngsters appeared before Magistrate Justine Asino on a charge of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft this week.
Ignatius Hendricks aged 22 years and 18-year-old John Pienaar were charged with the offence after they admitted breaking into a storage container on a site that they were supposed to guard stealing three hand drills and two grinders worth N$10 000. They told the court that they merely pulled open the padlock that was supposed to secure the container and went in. But this is where the consistency ends.
While Hendricks admitted that he stole two grinders and two drills on October 31 when they were caught, Pienaar admitted to stealing two drills and two grinders on October 15 and denied involvement in the alleged October 31 theft. It now appears both accused stole the first batch of two drills and two grinders on October 15, while Hendricks alone committed the theft on October 31 when he stole one drill and one grinder which were recovered. The loot from the first theft was not recovered as they sold the grinders for N$250 each, one drill for N$150 and the second drill for N$200. Both were employed as security guards at a building site at Auas Hills near Olympia. Despite the differences in their versions of what exactly transpired and the admissions of the youngsters State Prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt opted to accept the guilty pleas.
They were both remanded in custody. Pienaar informed the court that he would call his mother as a character witness, while Hendricks indicated that he has no one to call. While she was supposed to testify yesterday, because of congestion of the court roll the matter was again postponed to today.
By Roland Routh