OTJIWARONGO – Two government officials, arrested on Saturday at Otjiwarongo for allegedly stealing a government vehicle, were on Tuesday released on bail by the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court.

The accused are Julius Ngweda (45) and Joseph Shatilwe (49).

Ngweda is the ministry’s spokesperson.

According to the charge- sheet from the court, seen by Nampa, the two officials are based in Windhoek at the Ministry of Works and Transport.

They allegedly stole a white Toyota pickup, with registration number GRN 3874, and used it to transport grass in a trailer and some of their goods from Windhoek.

They were stopped by members of the Namibian Police Force at the Otjiwarongo-Otavi police permanent roadblock, where the vehicle was inspected.

The vehicle licence disc was discovered removed from the windshield, and the original GRN registration number plate of the car was replaced with a yellow registration number.

Ngweda and Shatilwe were arrested on the spot that Saturday, and they appeared before Otjiwarongo magistrate Billy Lutaka on Tuesday. Lutaka explained their legal rights to engage a private lawyer, apply for a State-funded Legal Aid lawyer, or defend themselves.

Both opted to defend themselves in court.

The magistrate then transferred their case to Windhoek, where the crime was allegedly committed, and ordered the duo to appear in a court in Windhoek on 2 August 2024.

He also granted them bail of N$5 000 each, which they paid.

Public prosecutor Johannes Inongelwa, who represented the State in the matter, did not oppose the granting of bail.

Police investigations continue. -Nampa