WINDHOEK – Judge Naomi Shivute dismissed an appeal in the matter in which businessman Maurus Valombola, 57, appealed against being denied bail in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court.

Valombola is a businessman in the north with businesses in places like Oshikuku, Tsandi and Eendombe.

He was arrested and charged with murder on February 8 this year, and made his first appearance on February 11 in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court. The matter was then remanded to February 14 for bail application.

During his bail hearing Valombola testified that on February 7 this year, he was at one of his bars called MK Special in Okeke when he had an argument with the deceased Bernhard Kalimbo (32), who wanted to leave the premises with beer in his glass, at 2am when the bar was about to close.

He further testified he was standing at the entrance of the bar when Kalimbo pushed him.

Valombola then allegedly hit the deceased with a pool stick on the side of the rib when Kalimbo reportedly tried to attack him. The businessman informed the court during his bail hearing that Kalimbo was taken to the Oshakati State Hospital where he later died.

During the bail hearing he further informed the court that he has a cattle post with more than 100 head of cattle, and is married with 19 children.

On February 14 this year, the businessman was denied bail in the Outapi court and appealed in the High Court in Windhoek against the decision.

Valombola pleaded if granted bail he would stand trial and comply with bail conditions.

The State opposed bail saying it was against the public interest to grant the accused bail.

The State feels he would interfere with investigations, as well as that the businessman may commit similar offences and that his safety may be compromised.

The State represented by state advocate Shakwa Nyambe in the appeal in the High Court argued that because of his role in society, “one cannot rule out the possibility of interfering with state witnesses even though statements were taken.”

Valombola, represented by Sisa Namandje, argued that according to that reasoning, “people who hold influential positions in our society, on that basis alone cannot be candidates to bail and that a possibility can never be ruled out that they will be interfering with witnesses.”

By Tunomukwathi Asino