The 15 human trafficking accused, including 12 Chinese nationals, one Cuban, one Angolan and one Namibian, have a long wait in store for them before their next court appearance.
Magistrate Monica Andjamba on Friday postponed their trial to 15 May for further investigations after an application from the State.
Public prosecutor Bernadine Shimutwikeni wanted a postponement until 26 July for further investigations, but after strenuous objections by defence counsels Gilroy Kasper and Kadhila Amoomo, the magistrate granted the two-month postponement.
Shimutwikeni told the magistrate that the State needed the extra-long remand as the investigation involves cross-border investigations and investigations overseas, as most of the ‘victims’ in the crypto currency scam are from America and Europe.
She further said the police still need to interview about 20 of the students used by the accused in the alleged scam. The devices seized are also being investigated by the Namibian Police’s National Forensic Science Institute.
Kasper argued strongly against such a long remand, and said that despite the prosecutor’s assertions of cross-border investigations and the need to interview the students, no real evidence of why they needed such a lengthy postponement was presented.
He wanted to know why the State did not bring the investigating officer to testify under oath how far the investigation is, and what still needs to be done. Such a long postponement will thus severely prejudice his clients who are not on bail, as their basic human right to freedom is being curtailed.
Kasper said it would be punishing his clients before they are tried and convicted in a competent court. Amoomo told the court that the State must provide reasons why they could not have done the investigation in the preceding time. No such reasons were provided, he added.
Andjamba granted the postponement, albeit only for two months, and ordered the State to summon the investigating officer to be at court on the next appearance, and provide reasons why the investigation would take such a long period to complete.
Fan Jia, Guo Linjie, Tango Muulyau, Haifeng Zheng, Li Zirian, Shi Zi Jun, Lin Shu Lin, Chen Wuyu, Neng Jun Wu, Wu Weiyang, Chen You Yi, Carlos Alejandro Batista Valdes, Toivo Herman and Ghim Hwee Chris Ang are facing, among others, 98 counts of trafficking in humans, one count of fraud, one count of money- laundering, one count of racketeering and one count of failure to pay tax.
Some are also charged with contravening the immigration law by overstaying in Namibia, working in Namibia without a permit, and entering Namibia without a permit.
Following the arrests, 163 computers, 350 mobile phones, six vehicles, 12 firearms, ammunition and cash of N$19 500 were recovered.
The total amount of the alleged fraud amounts to US$465 405.56 (approximately N$8 814 781).
It is alleged that the accused used at least 50 students to do their dirty work, with threats to their families.
The police stated that the students will not be charged, but will testify against the accused.
-rrouth@nepc.com.na