SWAKOPMUND – Swakopmund resident and quality assurance manager at Namibia Base Aviation Anje Nauhaus finds herself at the centre of a legal storm, facing multiple charges, including culpable homicide.
The other charges against her include fraud, forgery, uttering, as well as violation of the Aviation Act. All the charges are linked to the fatal helicopter accident that claimed the lives of pilot Jacques Jacobs (54) and aviation engineer Dirk von Weidts (29) last Monday in Swakopmund.
Jacobs, a well-known flight instructor in the Namibian aviation fraternity, and Von Weidts died after taking the helicopter on a test flight, following some maintenance work. The accident raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash and prompted a thorough investigation by authorities.
According to available information, the
helicopter involved in the crash, a Robinson-44, had been imported from South Africa.
However, before its registration in Namibia, it
was subject to technical inspections and administrative processes.
Nauhaus (34), who was arrested at her residence on Sunday, following investigations into the helicopter crash, made her first appearance in the Swakopmund court on the charges yesterday.
Public prosecutor Annita Likius, during her first appearance, opposed bail due to the seriousness of the case and expressed concerns that Nauhaus might interfere with the investigation.
“The suspect is also a flight risk, and it would not be in the interest of the public to grant her bail at this stage,” Likius explained.
Meanwhile, Nauhaus’ legal representative Willem Greyling from Kinglaw Associates shortly before the court proceedings, requested privacy for his client and family, indicating that they would not be making a statement.
“We ask for privacy for now and will inform you once we are ready to make a statement,” Greyling said.
The owner of Namibia Base Aviation opened the case after Nauhaus allegedly unlawfully and intentionally altered the certificate of registration and flight test permit of the helicopter.
Authorities seized two iPhones, a smaller phone, memory sticks, six computers, two laptops, six computers, 141 logbooks and three boxes with financial documents and invoices from Nauhaus’ residence, as well as from the residence of Namibia Base Aviation CC after obtaining a search warrant last week from the Swakopmund magistrate.
Magnus Abraham from the directorate of aircraft accident and incident investigation told New Era that every aspect of the incident is under scrutiny, including the qualifications and licences of the pilot and engineer, the aircraft’s compliance with aviation standards and its registration status.