WINDHOEK – A 27-year-old young man was denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court when he made a first appearance on a charge of dealing in cocaine.
State prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt told Magistrate Justine Asino that the State object to bail being granted to Lee-Roy van Neel on the grounds that he has already tried to plead guilty to dealing in 14 pieces of crack cocaine with a street value of N$1 400, but that more cocaine was found after a search of his residence was made.
The exact value of the cocaine found is not yet known, she said, as it will have to be sent to the laboratory for tests. According to Diergaardt the risk that Van Neel would abscond is great as he will no doubt get a lengthy custodial sentence as the charge he is facing is very serious.
She also said that the likelihood that Van Neel would commit another offence is very real. Van Neel who earlier indicated to the court that he wants to plead guilty was caught with the cocaine in Windhoek on August 22. Diergaardt however rejected the plea and said that with the additional cocaine found, the State needs to have it tested and asked for a remand to December 13 for laboratory results. Van Neel was remanded in custody and his rights to a formal bail application were explained to him.
By Roland Routh