WINDHOEK – A 52-year-old man appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Justine Asino yesterday on a charge of fraud involving N$267 000.
It is alleged the suspect Onesmus Valombola used a stolen cheque to buy a tractor at Hochland Tractor Centre worth N$267 000 on December 14 last year. He was arrested in Ondangwa on January 13 this year and transferred to Windhoek on Tuesday to make a first appearance on the charge. State prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt informed Asino that the State is objecting to bail being granted to the accused as he is charged with a serious offence where the value involved is quite high. It is currently also being investigated whether Valombola has other pending criminal cases, she said and continued that there is a likelihood that Valombola will abscond if released on bail and that it will not be in the interest of justice to release him on bail.
Vetu Uanivi who represents Valombola indicated he would arrange for a formal bail application before Valombola’s next court appearance. The case was postponed to April 25 for further investigation.
By Roland Routh