Windhoek
A third farmer from Otjozondjupa Region appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on Monday following his arrest on Saturday after he was reportedly found in possession of 201 rounds of ammunition for a light machine gun.
Norman Alexander Campbell, 54, was arrested on Saturday at his farm, Capricorn, after the police found the 201 rounds of ammunition. The farm is situated 30 kilometres northeast of Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region.
He faces charges of contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act of 1996 and possession of prohibited and unauthorised ammunition for a light machine gun. Four empty trunks of ammunition and Koevoet camouflage uniforms were also found at the farm, as well as a military leather bag, military water bottle bag and four licensed hunting rifles, including a licensed pistol, Nampa reported on Monday.
This is the third farmer to appear in court in recent weeks over the illegal possession of weapons.
A private Windhoek-based lawyer, Schalk Oosthuizen, represented Campbell. He told the court that his client inherited the ammunition together with Farm Capricorn from his father, who died in 2015, court records indicate.
The matter was remanded to June 29 for further police investigations and Otjiwarongo Magistrate Marilize du Plessis granted him bail of N$5 000 on Monday. Public Prosecutor Johannes Kalipi represented the State.
The first farmer Johannes Mostert, 53, who faces a charge of possession of assault weapons without a licence was denied bail in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday.
In the ruling delivered late on Tuesday Magistrate Helvi Shilemba said Mostert’s bail application was “unsuccessful because police investigations are ongoing”.
He is expected to make another court appearance on April 20, the initial date given to him at his first court appearance, for commencement of trial.
The weapons were discovered by the police on Mostert’s farm, Swartmodder, situated about 135 km south of Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region. He also faces a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), which was laid by his 53-year-old ex-wife.
The recovered military equipment found at his farm include 15 guns (AK-47s, R1s, R5s), hand grenades, hunting rifles, and military gear thought to have belonged to the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF), South West Africa Police (SWAPOL) and the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), among others.
The second farmer, Willem Maritz, 60, from Hochfeld appeared in Okahandja Magistrate’s Court in February on charges of threatening, pointing a firearm at his farmworker, as well as possession of firearms and ammunition without any valid licence.
Hochfeld is a settlement 135km northeast of Okahandja.
Detective Chief Inspector Naukalemo Andreas, the regional crime investigating coordinator for the Otjozondjupa Region, informed New Era in February that Maritz had allegedly threatened and pointed a firearm at his worker, who reported the matter to the Hochfeld police.
Upon investigating the police found and confiscated a variety of firearms, including shotguns, assault rifles and ammunition, Andreas said. Maritz was released on bail of N$4 000.