Iuze Mukube
A prominent legal-aid lawyer made an appearance yesterday in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on charges of theft and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. This is after allegedly stealing items valued at N$3 000 from a shop situated at Wernhil Shopping Mall.
Eva Maria Nangolo was arrested over the weekend after a shopping incident in which she allegedly left Dis-Chem with unpaid items worth N$3 920.
It is alleged that she stole one sunscreen, two Age Transformer Resculpt and two Berocca Boost 30 worth that amount on Saturday.
It is further alleged that she unlawfully defeated the course of justice by refusing to open her vehicle, in which the said stolen items were placed by her after leaving the shop without paying for the items, after being instructed to do so by city police officers.
Public prosecutor Menencia Hinda objected to bail, citing concerns that the accused may interfere with ongoing police investigations, particularly relating to count two.
Nangolo’s lawyer, Tuna Nhinda, questioned why the matter escalated into theft charges. He argued that there was no sufficient reason to keep his client in custody, as the allegations and the value of the items (around N$4 000) did not just justify denying bail.
Nhinda also stated that his client was not a flight risk and would not abscond over such an amount and that bail conditions could cure the state’s concerns instead of keeping her in custody.
He further argued that the state appeared to be punishing the accused and that instead of keeping her in custody, the accused could be ordered not to go near the vehicle in question while investigations continue.
Hinda replied that the state was not objecting to bail because the accused was a flight risk but because she could interfere with investigations.
She stated that Nangolo allegedly placed the unpaid items in her vehicle after being confronted and refused the police access to search the vehicle. The prosecutor also said that police were still in the process of obtaining a search and seizure warrant to access the vehicle and retrieve the alleged stolen items.
She argued that because Nangolo is still in possession of the car keys, granting her bail could likely result in the accused removing or interfering with evidence, hence hampering the administration of justice.
She added that once the items have been retrieved, the state might then reconsider its position in objecting to bail.
She also clarified that shoplifting falls under the broader offence of theft and that the charges against Nangolo were not vague, random or a conspiracy but that the state has evidence in support of the allegations levelled against the accused.
The matter was postponed to 22 May 2026 for fixing a date for a formal bail application.
Photo: Heather Erdmann