Iuze Mukube
Former Namib Desert Diamonds security officer Joel Angula yesterday failed to prove that he was a worthy candidate for bail.
He was arrested in connection with the N$315-million diamond heist at Namdia’s premises last year.
Windhoek Magistrate’s Court Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo, in her dismissal, said the interest of justice dictates that the accused’s detention be continued pending the finalisation of his trial.
She stated that she considered the whole body of evidence in considering the accused’s protest that he is a good candidate for bail because the State has no evidence linking him to the offences. Additionally, the accused said he will not abscond nor commit further offences if granted bail. He also stated the State’s case against him is weak; therefore, there is no incentive for him to abscond, and he will plead not guilty to all charges.
The magistrate found that the State has proven that it has a prima facie case against the applicant.
She was, however, of the opinion that some charges against Angula are a duplication. Shikalepo also found that there is no evidence to suggest that the accused has attempted to flee or that there exists a possibility he will desert his family and that he must evade the long arm of justice.
She further found the State did not provide evidence as to why it said the accused will interfere with investigations or witnesses other than assumptions. The courts do not operate on assumptions, she said.
She stated that, considering all things, the court comes to a last consideration of whether the interest of the public or the interest of the administration of justice dictates the applicant’s continuous detention pending his trial.
She stated that public interest or the interest of justice is sufficient if such ground is established to be present in a particular case for the court to refuse bail. She added that although a court may be satisfied that an applicant will not abscond or interfere with investigations, it may refuse bail if it deems it necessary that it is in the interest of the public or justice to retain the accused in custody pending his or her trial.
The latest arrest brings the total of Namdia employees arrested in the case to four. The heist on 18 January 2025 resulted in the death of Namdia protection officer Francis Eiseb.
The State is represented by Johannes Kalipi, and Angula by Veiko Alexander.
The matter was postponed to 19 March 2026 for the prosecutor general’s decision.