Windhoek
The bail application of three Angolan nationals, who were found with over N$2 million in their possession at a police road block in Otjozondjupa Region last month, started on Friday in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court.
The accused are Feliuano Abilio, 31, Francisco Sossingo, 23, and Joaquim Antonio, 33. The bail hearing started before Otjiwarongo Magistrate Jo-Rina Jagger. The State, represented by Prosecutor Leonard Tjiveze, opposed bail on the grounds that police investigations are still at an infant stage, adding that the three suspects are foreigners with no permanent residential address in Namibia.
Tjiveze informed the court that the State fears the men might interfere with the investigation and State witnesses. The bail hearing will proceed on Friday this week as the matter could not be finalised.
The three were represented by Mbanga Siyomunji from the Siyomunji Law Chambers in Windhoek. The trio was found with over N$1.7 million in their car on September 22 at the Otjiwarongo-Otavi police roadblock. A day later the Otjozondjupa police recovered another N$280 000 on them, stashed in their socks and pants, during a thorough search of the suspects at Otjiwarongo police station.
The men allegedly hid the bank notes – predominantly of N$200 denominations amounting to over N$1.7 million – in their car’s boot and behind the backseat. The men could not provide a satisfactory explanation as to where the money comes from and why they had such a large amount in their possession.
The men were then detained and their vehicle impounded. It is alleged the three men entered Namibia from Angola on September 22 via the Oshikango Border Post and were en route to Windhoek, when they were taken into custody.
They are being charged with contravening Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 29 of 2004 (POCA), which deals with money laundering and the acquisition of proceeds of unlawful activities. The Act also prohibits foreign nationals from entering or exiting Namibia with large amounts of money without declaring the funds.