By Tunomukwathi Asino
WINDHOEK – The matter in which a court interpreter and another suspect face a charge of theft of police dockets will proceed on March 17 this year following the postponement of the case.
The case was postponed in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court to enable one of the accused to get a lawyer.
Thomas Mutilifa and Hafeni Kafila Kautwima are charged with the theft of three dockets which dealt with robbery and fraud cases at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Kautwima informed the court that since the charges were serious, he would like the services of a lawyer when he pleads to the charges. The matter has been on the roll since 2012.
Mutilifa was an interpreter at the same court where the docket thefts occurred and was also an interpreter in the High Court. He later only interpreted in the High Court but has since secured a new job.
Mutilifa and Kautwima allegedly stole the dockets after they broke into the prosecutor Hendricks Tholiso’s office between January 17 and 18 2012.
It is alleged the suspects stole the dockets dealing with robbery and fraud, which contained witnesses’ statements, scientific evidence and statements of the accused, all vital for a successful prosecution.
The break-in was only discovered the following morning, and sources said the motive behind the theft of the court records could’ve been an attempt to defeat the course of justice.
The two are free on bail of N$3 000 each, which was extended until their next court appearance.