By John Muyamba
RUNDU – One of the suspects implicated in the alleged murder of Chinese businessman, Gao Li (57), at Rainbow Village appeared in the Rundu magistrate’s court yesterday.
The alleged murder of Gao – the owner of Panda shops at Rundu – has sent shockwaves among the business fraternity at Rundu where there has been a spate of armed robberies targetting Chinese businesses.
Gao was allegedly murdered by a gang of robbers that forcibly entered his residence through the bathroom after they sawed off its windows.
Ipakwa Mathews Rheinhold, 23, who was arrested in the north early this week, appeared before Rundu magistrate, Esme Molele, on charges of murder, housebreaking with intent to rob and armed robbery.
He was arrested in the Oshakati area on Tuesday and transferred to Rundu on Wednesday to appear in the Rundu magistrate’s court.
Deputy Prosecutor-General Kakululwa Haindobo prosecuted during the routine court appearance, and the accused was not granted bail due to the seriousness of the matter. One of his co-accused was also arrested at Otjiwarongo. The co-accused, reportedly the mastermind and a habitual criminal, will also appear in court facing the same charges.
The case involving Rheinhold was postponed to 25 September for further police investigations and for the suspect to apply for legal aid. The suspect was denied bail, as the State fears that he will interfere with police investigations and state witnesses and that it is in the interest of the public and administration of justice.
Meanwhile, the 40-year-old suspect who was arrested at Otjiwarongo on Monday is also said to be linked to the Chinese businessman’s murder, but appeared in court on a separate case in which he and two other fugitives allegedly robbed a Chinese shop at Shitemo village of N$10 000 in cash and various items worth N$22 000 on 5 August – hours after the Rainbow Village murder.
It is alleged that the suspects, who pretended to be customers, entered the shop when it was about to close and held its petrified owner at gunpoint.
The detained suspect, who police sources revealed as a hardcore habitual criminal, was denied bail on Wednesday and the case was postponed to next week Wednesday, 20 August, for Legal Aid application and the presence of an Oshiwambo interpreter.
The armed robbery suspect at Shitemo village, who is also fingered in the murder, on Wednesday appeared before magistrate Esme Molefe but he cannot be identified until he has been arraigned in the case of murder at Rainbow Village.
Police investigations continue in both cases.