NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-08-02Drug suspect’s cars, money forfeited
Werner Menges
TWO cars and nearly N$100 000 seized from a Swakopmund resident, Jaco Olivier, who was arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs two years ago were declared forfeited to the State this week.
The High Court order declaring the forfeiture of the cars and money was made in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
In terms of the order, a Toyota Yaris and a Hyundai Matrix; an amount of N$18 950 confiscated by the police; and N$80 248 which was kept in the trust account of a law firm at Swakopmund, were declared State property.
Another N$80 248, also kept in the law firm’s trust account, will be returned to Jaco Olivier, who was arrested in June 2011 on a charge of dealing in cocaine.
The forfeited assets will be allocated to the Criminal Assets Recovery Fund, created by POCA, before they are allocated to specific law enforcement agencies.
The forfeiture order was given after Olivier’s lawyers reached a settlement with the Prosecutor-General who had asked the court to declare all of the money and the two cars forfeited to the State.
The Prosecutor-General obtained an initial preservation order, also in terms of POCA, prohibiting anyone from dealing in the money and cars in July 2011.
It was alleged that a police informer bought some cocaine from Olivier in the early morning hours of 25 June 25, 2011.
Olivier was previously convicted on a charge of possession of drugs after police officers following up a claim that he was making crack cocaine in his flat at Swakopmund had found 40 pieces of crack cocaine hidden in the bathroom of the flat.
The Prosecutor-General further alleged that the money and cars seized from Olivier were proceeds of illegal activities.
Olivier denied that he was a drug dealer claiming he earned the money from legitimate business activities, which included buying and selling cars.
It is understood that the charge against Olivier has, in the meantime, been provisionally withdrawn.
The High Court order declaring the forfeiture of the cars and money was made in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
In terms of the order, a Toyota Yaris and a Hyundai Matrix; an amount of N$18 950 confiscated by the police; and N$80 248 which was kept in the trust account of a law firm at Swakopmund, were declared State property.
Another N$80 248, also kept in the law firm’s trust account, will be returned to Jaco Olivier, who was arrested in June 2011 on a charge of dealing in cocaine.
The forfeited assets will be allocated to the Criminal Assets Recovery Fund, created by POCA, before they are allocated to specific law enforcement agencies.
The forfeiture order was given after Olivier’s lawyers reached a settlement with the Prosecutor-General who had asked the court to declare all of the money and the two cars forfeited to the State.
The Prosecutor-General obtained an initial preservation order, also in terms of POCA, prohibiting anyone from dealing in the money and cars in July 2011.
It was alleged that a police informer bought some cocaine from Olivier in the early morning hours of 25 June 25, 2011.
Olivier was previously convicted on a charge of possession of drugs after police officers following up a claim that he was making crack cocaine in his flat at Swakopmund had found 40 pieces of crack cocaine hidden in the bathroom of the flat.
The Prosecutor-General further alleged that the money and cars seized from Olivier were proceeds of illegal activities.
Olivier denied that he was a drug dealer claiming he earned the money from legitimate business activities, which included buying and selling cars.
It is understood that the charge against Olivier has, in the meantime, been provisionally withdrawn.
