Thomas Keller (67), known for his portrait and desert photography, Klaus Lorentsch (55), who was co-charged in the first Harry Simon accident, and Rudolf Stampa (41) appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Keller was charged with the possession of prohibited dependency-producing drugs.

The other two were similarly charged, with an alternative of dealing in prohibited dependency-producing drugs.

Keller was released on N$5 000 bail on Saturday, but Lorentsch and Stampa remained in custody until yesterday, when they were granted N$5 000 bail each by Magistrate Alexis Diergaardt.

The case was postponed to March 31.

While the Police said the three men gave their full co-operation at the time of their arrest, one of them was less impressed with the media attention at the courthouse yesterday.

Donna Collins of the Namib Times was called a "witch" and violently pushed out of the way by one of the men when she tried taking a photo outside the court.

Chief Inspector Sydney Philander said the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Police had reacted to a tip-off when the arrests were made on Saturday.

They found five dagga plants of about one metre high and a bottle of dagga tea at Stampa's home at 76 Libertine Amathila Street.

The next stop was at 15 Pelican street, Vineta, where a collection of small dagga plants, dried dagga and dagga pips were confiscated from Lorentsch.

At Keller's residence at 12 Bismarck Centre, 74 bags of dagga were found.

Six dagga pipes and a small amount of dagga were found at a plot outside Swakopmund.

The three men provided the Police with photos and a book on the growing and processing of dagga.

The investigating officer was still determining the value.

It is not yet clear whether the three were working together.

They are reportedly good friends.

All three have permanent residence in Namibia.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  Fatal kicking case to Regional Court
•  MVA sues paralysed accident victim
•  Koevoet bases to be renovated
•  Campsites bring hope to Puros
•  'Koos Kombuis' in Walvis cell
•  Ulenga leaves Parliament to prepare CoD for elections
•  Chief /Gaseb does not acknowledge appointment by King Justus //Garoeb
•  German museum to return skulls
•  Big Brother Africa 3: E-mails - From You To Us
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Is Malawi going to clean up?
•  Court cracks down on 'struggle children'
•  Nearly a third of Namibians poor
•  Pupils suspended over porn DVD
•  NA approves US grant
•  Russian couple murder sent to High Court
•  Rain prospects for the northeast good
•  Housing Minister meets shack dwellers
•  Flood of applause for flood support
•  New deputy chair for chiefs' council
•  Special week for Special Olympians
•  Misa Namibia Media Awards 2008
•  Bret goes bust
•  Fruit fly causes loss of millions in exports
•  Knives out for Pohamba