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Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - Web posted at 11:27:23 GMT Record robbery trial finally kicks off WERNER MENGESTHE trial of 11 people accused of a record-setting cash-in-transit heist near Brakwater in November 2000 finally started in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday. |
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A full public gallery was on hand to witness all 11 accused enter a plea of not guilty before Judge Annel Silungwe. Most indicated nothing more than that they are denying any involvement in, or knowledge of, the robbery in which N$5,3 million was stolen from a security company vehicle in the Brakwater area, outside Windhoek, on November 17 2000. The vehicle was targeted by armed robbers shortly after it had departed from Windhoek, with Ondangwa as its destination, to deliver N$5,3 million to a branch of City Savings and Investment Bank in the North. The only more detailed explanations for their not guilty pleas came from two of the accused whose legal representatives told the court that their clients have alibis to show they could not have been involved in the heist. Lucius Murorua, acting for Immanuel Handjaba Kaukungua, told the court that a deposit of N$100 000 into Kaukungua's bank account at Oranjemund was payment for a legitimate business transaction that was later aborted. The N$100 000 is alleged to have been part of the stolen millions. A further deposit of N$87 000 into his account on February 13 2000 was made by Heinrich himself, Metcalfe said, adding that this came from a transaction with a certain Leon, whom he described as a white resident of Port Nolloth in South Africa. Heinrich faces allegations that money paid into his account in January and February 2000 also came from the stolen fortune. The first prosecution witness is set to continue today with his testimony on a car hijacking prelude to the Brakwater heist. German development aid worker Harald Schuett testified that he arrived at his home in Schwerinsburg Street in Windhoek shortly before 11 on the evening of November 16 2000. As he was on his way to open the gate to his yard, a person with a balaclava mask pulled over his face stepped menacingly towards him, Schuett said. His first reaction was to push the person back, but then another two men, without masks, stepped out of the dark. They were armed. "The one on the right put his gun on my chest, close to my heart, and then I knew there were no games to be played," he related. They took his car keys and cellphone, and in a flash were on their way with his Nissan pick-up. "It was a matter of less than 20, 30 seconds. They were absolutely well-organised," Schuett said. He still tried to do something which he yesterday described as "a little bit like an American movie", Schuett added. He jumped on the rear bumper of his bakkie as the trio drove away, and, holding onto the roof, tried to shout for help. A few hundred meters further the bakkie stopped, and one of the three stepped out of the vehicle with his pistol, cocked it and told Schuett that he would be killed. Schuett got off and ran back home to summon the Police. Schuett did not know any of the 11 accused in court yesterday. Small asked him specifically about the third accused, Hendrick Tsibande, whose fingerprint was allegedly found inside Schuett's bakkie. Schuett said he could not recall having met Tsibande or giving him a ride. He said he had no idea how Tsibande's fingerprint could have ended up in his bakkie. |
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PO Box 20783 - Windhoek - 42 John Meinert Street Tel: +264 (61) 236970 - Fax: +264 (61) 233980
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