Iuze Mukube
A pending decision from Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa is crucial in determining whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Joel Angula and Sam Shololo.
It is expected during their next court appearance on 18 June 2026.
The diamond-theft accused appeared before Magistrate Olga Muharukua yesterday for a ruling on an application for postponement which was made in March by the State.
On 19 March 2026, public prosecutor Andrie Hendricks-Rickerts requested a further remand, submitting that instructions from Imalwa are provided.
Therefore, the State is not in possession of the docket to decide and the charges of murder, robbery and contravention of the Diamond Act total N$335-million.
It also stated that subsequent arrests will be made and that the police, due to budget restraints and cross-jurisdictional investigations, were incomplete.
It further stated that investigations will be jointly done with the matter of Samuel Shipanga and two others still to be joined, the ones of Noordwover and Keetmashop.
The state submitted that investigations are cross-jurisdictional and that they run parallel with other dockets involving N$335-million worth of diamonds.
Magistrate Muharukua, while delivering the ruling yesterday, stated that the court, when faced with a decision to postpone, must exercise its discretion, taking into account all the circumstances surrounding each and every particular case.
“Every postponement must be reasonable and justifiable. The court must balance the interests of justice, the reasons for the request, and any other prejudice that the accused may suffer,” she said.
She added that the “court is of the opinion that the circumstances that the state has proffered are justifiable in requesting a remand in the best interest of the administration of justice.” She, however, cautioned the state not to present this in a piecemeal fashion, as it severely prejudices the accused persons, not only in terms of expectation but also places burdens on the accused person, specifically for those in custody.
Parties, specifically the state, are required to take serious note and caution regarding seeking remands without putting the court in full view of the circumstances that justify any postponement when the postponements are made final, she added.
Angula and Shololo are facing charges including murder, two counts of attempted murder, robbery and possession of rough and uncut diamonds.