WINDHOEK – The case in which over one million Namibia dollars was allegedly stolen from a cash-in-transit vehicle belonging to Southern Cross Security Services was thrown out of court on Thursday.
The accused who were in custody after being denied bail were released, while those on bail had their bail money refunded. The heist took place on November 11, 2011.
The reason for the withdrawal in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court was because the Prosecutor General’s decision on how to proceed with the matter was unavailable after several postponements.
The defence lawyers then applied for the matter to be withdrawn, which Magistrate Alpha Haihambo granted.
Theodor Shipanga, a former employee of Southern Cross Security Services, was charged with several counts – of murder, theft, defeating or obstructing the course of justice and malicious damage to property.
His brother Aksel Shipanga was the second accused charged with theft, while the third accused Victory Shipanga faced a charge of theft.
Petrina Binga and Samuel Iileka were both charged with a count of theft, based on allegations they had removed money from the scene of the armed robbery.
They were implicated in the theft of N$1.2 million, which Theodore, according to the allegations, stole from the vehicle after shooting dead his colleague before setting the van alight. The incident happened on November 11, 2011 when Theodore and his 22-year-old colleague Shain van Wyk were on their way back to Windhoek after collecting money in the northern regions. Van Wyk was fatally shot in the head.
The police later found Van Wyk’s body under a bridge, 64 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo.Theodore allegedly discarded the body under the bridge along the Otjiwarongo-Okahandja road and made off with the money.
Theodore was arrested when he went to the police station to report the crime, claiming he and the deceased were robbed by two unknown men whom they had given a lift from their last pick-up point at Otjiwarongo.
Before that, he allegedly burnt the vehicle between Freedomland and Ombili settlements before getting away with the cash. Residents of these settlements who picked up money that fell from the vehicle were charged with theft as well.
By Tunomukwathi Asino