Heather Erdmann
REHOBOTH – The bail hearing for Naomi Fisch was postponed to today after she and co-accused, Steve Schneiders, were served with a preservation order by Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa.
The duo is accused of drug trafficking and money laundering.
It was postponed at the Rehoboth Magistrate’s Court last week.
The application seeks to freeze their bank accounts and other assets pending a possible forfeiture process.
The State alleges that the funds in Fisch’s accounts are proceeds of her alleged drug-dealing activities.
She is facing charges alongside Schneiders, Menschel Beukes, Revilo Diergaardt and Brendon Dylan Vrieslaar, relating to the possession and dealing of 200 grams of cannabis and half a mandrax tablet, as well as money laundering, with cash totalling N$154 069 found during a December 2025 police raid at Fisch and Schneiders’ residence at Erf 126 Block F, Rehoboth.
During testimony last month, Fisch admitted to holding two personal savings accounts, one at First National Bank with approximately N$6 000 and another at Bank Windhoek with N$15 000.
The State, however, presented evidence that Fisch also holds a NamPost account with N$89 000 and two investment accounts totalling N$60 000, which she denied knowing about, despite the State’s assertion that her tuckshop and seven-seater (transport business) could not realistically generate such.
The preservation order identifies these accounts as “unexplained assets” and requires Fisch and Schneiders to respond within 21 days. The order also includes a NamPost account held in the name of Fisch’s minor son, and a Bank Windhoek account in Schneider’s name.
The accused remain in custody while the State opposes bail, citing the risk of interference with police investigations, flight risk and public interest. Evidence presented by Detective Inspector Pendukeni Nghuluwa detailed previous attempts by Fisch to conceal drugs and the alleged continuation of her operations while in custody.
The court also heard that the accused’s legal team requested time to study the preservation order and incorporate relevant questions into the bail proceedings. As a result, the hearing was postponed, with cross-examination and further testimony from Detective Nghuluwa expected to continue.
The case is being led by Nghuluwa, who is the head of the Drug Law Subdivision in the Hardap region.
Photo: Heather Erdmann