Windhoek
One of three suspected robbers, who allegedly robbed the manager of Total Service Station in Pionierspark of N$170 000 in November last year made his second appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on a charge of armed robbery on Monday.
The accused, Leonard Niilenge, appeared in court on a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances. It was agreed that his bail hearing will start on January 20 and would continue on January 22.
Last November Prosecutor Erastus Hatutale requested that the matter to be remanded to February 24 this year and objected to Niilenge being granted bail. The prosecutor said four firearms were used in the commissioning of the robbery, none of which have been recovered. He further said there are additional suspects wanted in connection with the robbery.
“We fear that if accused is released on bail, he will interfere with the ongoing police investigations, in particular the three suspects at large,” the prosecutor argued at the time. Hatutale also said the investigations were at a preliminary stage and that it would not be in the interest of the public and the fair administration of justice if the accused were released on bail at that point in time.
The matter was then remanded by Magistrate Jermaine Muchali to February 24 for further investigations and legal aid. Niilenge has since filed for a formal bail application. Niilenge, accompanied by his lawyer, handed himself in to the police in November last year, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi confirmed at the time.
She said Niilenge – who is the owner of the vehicle used in the robbery – surrendered himself to the serious crime division. Following the incident, a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed to New Era that two of the three suspects wanted in connection with the armed robbery at the fuel service station in Pionierspark face multiple pending robbery cases before the Katutura Magistrate’s Court and were out on bail at the time of the service station robbery.
Profiles provided by City Police showed that Niilenge is a resident of Havana in Katutura and has five pending criminal cases registered against his name.
He faces a charge of robbery at Outapi, two house-breaking cases in Windhoek, a case of kidnapping and assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, and pointing of a firearm.
A second suspect, Nghilifavali, a resident of Hakahana’s Omusavati Street, has an armed robbery case pending against him, while his co-suspect, Jesaya Haule 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 had a blowout along Hendrik Witbooi Drive behind Pionierspark and the Western Bypass. The armed gang reportedly fled on foot in the direction of Rocky Crest.
Niilenge’s alleged accomplices are still on the run.