By Nuusita Ashipala
OSHAKATI – An 18-year-old suspect insulted the court slamming the door and disappeared into the cells for trial-awaiting inmates screaming at the top of his lungs after he was denied bail in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
This is “total bull, flipping bull” uttered David Nangombe after he was denied bail. Nangombe appeared before Magistrate Mutafela Likando on a charge of escaping from lawful custody on November 18 last year.
Nangombe left three police officers blocking the door to the courtroom fearing that he could return.
It is alleged Nangombe was taken home at Hannover in Ongwediva to collect his medical card when he fled. The accused was initially in custody for domestic-related matters, for which he was also denied bail.
He informed the court that: “I ran away, I am not crazy to just run away like that. I ran away because I was arrested unfairly.”
Nangombe told the court he wants to be granted bail because he has spent two years behind bars.
“I was 17 years old when I went into custody and I turned 18 years in custody,” said Nangombe.
His co-accused Simeon Festus and Tomas Paulus were each granted bail of N$500.
Festus and Paulus are charged with defeating and obstructing the course of justice. It is alleged the duo refused to furnish the police with information of Nangombe’s whereabouts while he was indeed in their sleeping room.
In his plea, Festus indicated he is not guilty because the accused was not found in his room as alleged and that he only saw him the day he was arrested.
Paulus also pleaded not guilty to the charge indicating that it was not a surprise that Nangombe was in his house.
He, however, admitted Nangombe was in his house.
“It is not the first time he is coming to my house, we played together as children but I didn’t know that he was in custody or escaped from custody,” stated Paulus.
Paulus informed the court he found him in his house after he returned from playing.
The three chose to conduct their own defense and all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Prosecutor Reinhard Alfeus Jacob represented the State.