The prosecutor general’s office will have to decide whether the case against the co-accused of fugitive former judicial officer Walter ‘Rooies’ Mostert should continue.
During previous court proceedings, the State and defence counsels had agreed to have a separate trial for Mostert’s co-accused, but prosecutor Bernadine Shimutwikeni yesterday informed the court that the PG needs to give the go-ahead first.
Thus, magistrate Esme Molefe postponed the matter to 3 June for the PG to pronounce herself in the matter.
Mostert was scheduled to stand trial on 18 January alongside co-accused Joyline Kambatuku, Eveline Meroro and Joram Salomo. They have been charged with counts under the Anti-Corruption Act and the Immigration Control Act, money laundering, extortion, fraud and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
The trial could not start as scheduled as Mostert mysteriously vanished after having been dropped off at the Auas Hills care facility in Auasblick on 5 November 2021. He was receiving medical care at the hospital under police guard.
Inspector Reinhold Nenkavu was arrested in November last year, following the disappearance of Mostert. Nenkavu is now free on bail. Mostert remains at large.
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 another N$250 000 from Pieterse.
He allegedly told Pieterse that the money would help with his application to acquire Namibian permanent residence.
-mamakali@nepc.com.na