Ongwediva
Haiduwa Hans Tobias, 30, appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for the murder of his friend.
Tobias allegedly shot and killed Michel Kalomo who had robbed a Chinese businessman of a huge amount of cash.
Kalomo had initially phoned Tobias to help him get away from Oshikango following the robbery. He wanted to be taken to Ondjondjo near Engela.
On their way the taxi driver saw the stacks of stolen money and he allegedly shot and killed his friend to claim the loot for himself
Apart from the charge of murder, Tobias also faces a charge of defeating and obstructing the course of justice related to his attempt to conceal the crime.
On Wednesday, Tobias appeared before magistrate Mika Namweya, while Markus Angula prosecuted.
The case was postponed to September 18 for further investigation and to enable Tobias to secure the services of a lawyer because of the seriousness of the crimes.
According to police sources, Kalomo robbed the Chinese businessman at Oshikango between 14h00 and 16h00 on Sunday.
The regional police commander of Ohangwena Region, Tylves Kampolo, confirmed the incident.
He said N$6 000 was discovered at the scene where the deceased’s body was found.
Kampolo said the taxi driver shot Kalomo twice with a pistol in the head and left shoulder and then dumped his body at a nearby dry water point.
Sources said the taxi driver had wanted to dump the body in a lake but his car got stuck in sand and he ended up dumping the body at the dry water point.
“When he went home he apparently took a shower, dressed up and then told the wife he was going to Windhoek,” said the source.
The source further told New Era the suspect later hired another taxi driver to take him to Windhoek and he promised to pay him N$10 000 for the trip.
“On his way to Windhoek he called the wife telling her she must clean the car, because there were bloodstains inside the vehicle, and that he had killed a person and was off to Windhoek,” said a police source.
Sources said the wife told the suspect’s friend who in turn informed the police. The suspect was arrested at a roadblock near Otjiwarongo.
The taxi driver taking Tobias to Windhoek was also detained.