The case of former magistrate Walter Mostert and his co-accused will be transferred to the regional court, where they will face trial in August.
Mostert, who appeared in absentia due to the lockdown of the Windhoek Correctional Facility, alongside Joyline Kambatuku, Eveline Meroro and Joram Salomo were informed yesterday that their case was ready for trial, and would be transferred to regional court. The accused made their appearance in Windhoek Magistrate’s Court before magistrate Celma Amadhila.
“We have consulted with the control prosecutor from Katutura, and we have agreed for the matter to be transferred to Mungunda Street Regional Court and for the accused to make their first appearance on 6 August,” said prosecutor Like Phelem.
The prosecution is charging Mostert and his co-accused with counts under the Anti-Corruption Act and the Immigration Control Act, and counts of money laundering, extortion, fraud and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
The State is alleging that the charges emanate from a period between 2012 and 2013 when Mostert worked in cahoots with his co-accused by assisting a South African family to obtain Namibian identity documents illegally. He allegedly furnished the ministry of home affairs with false documents that members of that family and their parents had been born at Usakos.
In 2013, Mostert extorted N$90 000 from one Kosie Pieterse when he informed him that his family member was arrested for overstaying in Namibia after the visa had expired, alleges the prosecution.
The prosecution is further alleging that Mostert fraudulently obtained N$250 000 from Pieterse. He allegedly told Pieterse that the money would help with his application to acquire Namibian permanent residence.
Mostert was arrested on 1 May, after he had returned to Namibia from South Africa, where he had been living for the past four years. The Anti-Corruption Commission has been looking for him since September 2018.
The former judicial officer and his co-accused are currently in police custody, with Mostert being held at Windhoek Central Prison while his co-accused are held at Windhoek police station.