WINDHOEK – One of the two men arrested over the weekend for the possession of and or dealing in 255 grams of methcathinone (CAT) valued at N$127 500 was denied bail.
The reason is because he is a foreign national and regarded as a flight risk.
Namibian national Simon Shikwambi and Mlawa Almasi (nationality unknown although he speaks Swahili) were arrested on Thursday April 02 after the police acting on a tip-off searched a house at Goreangab informal settlement and found the accused in possession of the substance.
They made a first appearance before magistrate Surita Savage yesterday and were represented by Milton Engelbrecht.
Public prosecutor Maria Mendonsa informed the court the State had no objection to bail being granted to Shikwambi in the amount of N$10 000, but objected to bail for Almasi.
She requested a postponement to August 10 for further investigations and for the substance to be tested by the National Forensic Science Institute of Namibia (NFSI).
Savage granted the postponement and also granted Almasi a date for a formal application of bail which is April 23.
Meanwhile, a DRC national residing at Osire refugee camp made a first appearance on a charge of dealing in or possession of dangerous dependence-producing drugs.
The suspect Mutamba Mputo Pacha appeared before magistrate Kaulikalelwa Nghishitende yesterday.
He was not asked to plead, but was advised of his legal rights.
He indicated he would hire a private lawyer.
Pacha was allegedly found in possession of five small plastic bags with 50 grams of crack cocaine valued at N$17 000.
He was arrested at the Windhoek/Rehoboth roadblock on Friday, April 03 while travelling as a passenger in a vehicle and police yielded the drugs after they searched him and found crack cocaine in his possession.
Public prosecutor Ivann Tjizu informed the court that the State was awaiting the results from the NFSI and asked the court to postpone the matter to July 30 for lab results and further investigations as well as for him to appoint a lawyer.
The magistrate granted his request and set bail in the amount of N$10 000 with the condition that Pacha report every Monday and Friday between 08h00 and 12h00 at the office of Sergeant Gariseb at the offices of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit.