Windhoek
One of three men accused of robbing a petrol service station of N$170 000 last November was recently granted bail in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Leonard Iita Niilenge, 35, and Jesaya Haule Kamulu, 36, are two of the three men currently before court. A third man is still on the run. Both face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Niilenge was granted bail of N$20 000. As part of his bail conditions, he has to report to the Windhoek police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and should not leave the district of Windhoek without the investigating officer’s permission.
Kamulu is still in custody. He is represented by Milton Engelbrecht from Engelbrecht Attorneys. In February Engelbrecht had said he would also approach the prosecutor’s office about making a formal bail application for his client.
The men have to return to court on May 24 for further investigations and the handing in of lab results. Kamulu was arrested in January while Niilenge, accompanied by his lawyer, handed himself over to the police in November.
At the time Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi, the head of media relations, said Niilenge, who is the owner of the vehicle used in the robbery, surrendered himself to the serious crime division. Shikwambi could not say whether Niilenge had handed over any of the stolen money. “For now I can’t confirm if he surrendered the money. Give us some time, we are busy with the investigation,” she said then.
She has in the past issued a warning to the suspect on the run, Johannes Giva Nghilifavali, to surrender or face arrest.
Profiles provided by City Police show Niilenge is a resident of Havana in Katutura and has five pending criminal cases. He has a case of robbery at Outapi, two housebreaking cases in Windhoek, a case of kidnapping and assault with intent of grievous bodily harm, and pointing of a firearm.
Nghilifavali is a resident of Hakahana’s Omusavati Street, has an armed robbery case pending against him, while Kamulu, a resident of Freedom Land’s Ombo Street, also has a case of armed robbery pending.
At the time of the robbery the owner of the service station had fired several shots at the robbers, who hurriedly fled the scene after looting the money. No one was injured during the shoot-out.
The group fled the scene in a black Volkswagen Jetta that was later found abandoned after one of its tyres suffered a puncture along Hendrik Witbooi Drive behind Pionierspark along the Western Bypass. The armed gang reportedly fled from there on foot in the direction of Rocky Crest.
Mbanga Siyomunji of Siyomunji Law Chambers represented Niilenge in his bail application. Prosecutor Rowan van Wyk represented the State. Magistrate Ilge Rheent presided.