By Roland Routh
WINDHOEK – The two sisters who are charged with defrauding United Africa Group (UAG) of N$700 000 will have to spend another three weeks behind bars after their formal bail application failed.
State prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt told Magistrate Justine Asino that the primary reason for requesting the denail of bail for Annalise Bok and Jessica Dentlinger was that they could interfere with the State’s witnesses.
She said the investigating officer informed her he would need at least three weeks to obtain statements from the witnesses the accused are likely to interfere with.
She asked the court for a postponement to July 02 for bail consideration.
Defense counsel James Diedericks agreed to the remand to “exclude the possible risk of interference” and asked the court to order that his clients be incarcerated at Hosea Kutako holding cells on unspecific medical grounds.
Asino granted the postponement and remanded the matter to July 02.
The accused, who are sisters, were apprehended near Keetmanshoop allegedly on their way to South Africa to evade capture.
It is alleged Bok who was employed at United Africa Group defrauded the company since 2012. It is further alleged she paid money meant for suppliers into her bank account and that of her sister. It is suspected that the amount allegedly embezzled could easily reach N$1 million.
rrouth@newera.com.na