4 in court over Swakop hijack drama

FOUR men suspected of hijacking five tourists from Europe and holding them hostage in two separate incidents near Swakopmund last week have appeared in court.

Bernhard Ngikofele (19), Joshua Shitilwe (22), Simon Martin (21) and Andreas Haimbodi (20) were traced and arrested on the same day and appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court on charges of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances. All of them pleaded not guilty.They were remanded in custody until their next appearance on February 8 2006.Three tourists from Germany – Herbert Haecker, his wife Slavica and a friend, Berndt Hauptmann – were taking photos at Moon Valley east of Swakopmund when they were approached by four men.”We could not understand,” testified Herbert Haecker.”There was no house or tree or big boulder from where they came.”They appeared out of nowhere.”Haecker told the court that one of the men asked them for water.When Haecker asked how they could be in such an environment without water, the man allegedly drew a pistol and ordered the three tourists into the back seat of their double-cab Toyota bakkie.The man, later identified as Hikifele, got into the driver’s seat while the one carrying the firearm, identified as Martin, took the front passenger seat, according to Haecker.The other two men stayed behind.He said the driver could not get the car moving and ordered Slavica Haecker to drive.When the vehicle reached the main road, Hikifele took over and told the woman to return to the backseat, said Haecker.Martin allegedly demanded money and ordered them to keep their heads down and their eyes closed.Haecker said Martin threatened to kill them if they didn’t obey.One of the cars that passed the Toyota in the opposite direction was driven by Swiss citizen Joachim Bauer, with his German girlfriend Indra Roy.Bauer testified that, from the way the Toyota was being driven, he suspected that something was wrong and someone might need help.Bauer said he stopped, reversed and as his car drew up alongside the Toyota, Ngikefele jumped out, ran towards his car and opened the passenger-side door.The gunman allegedly grabbed their wallet, climbed over Roy into the back seat and pressed the gun to the back of her head, threatening to shoot her if Bauer made a false move.Bauer said he drove as carefully as possible in fear that the gun might go off.Bauer told the court that the hijacker ordered him to stop near the Swakopmund airfield, where he gave their wallet and credit cards back, got out and told them to drive off while he ran away.Bauer and Roy immediately reported the incident to the Police.Meanwhile, Martin was allegedly trying desperately to get into the back seat of the Toyota.Hauptmann apparently managed to keep him out by kicking at him.While Slavica Haecker got into the driver’s seat, trying to get the vehicle in motion, Martin allegedly ran around to Herbert Haecker’s door.When Martin opened the door, Haecker punched him in the throat.After Martin allegedly threw a rock at the vehicle, Slavica Haecker managed to speed off and drove to the Police station in Swakopmund.All of them pleaded not guilty.They were remanded in custody until their next appearance on February 8 2006.Three tourists from Germany – Herbert Haecker, his wife Slavica and a friend, Berndt Hauptmann – were taking photos at Moon Valley east of Swakopmund when they were approached by four men.”We could not understand,” testified Herbert Haecker.”There was no house or tree or big boulder from where they came.”They appeared out of nowhere.”Haecker told the court that one of the men asked them for water.When Haecker asked how they could be in such an environment without water, the man allegedly drew a pistol and ordered the three tourists into the back seat of their double-cab Toyota bakkie.The man, later identified as Hikifele, got into the driver’s seat while the one carrying the firearm, identified as Martin, took the front passenger seat, according to Haecker.The other two men stayed behind.He said the driver could not get the car moving and ordered Slavica Haecker to drive.When the vehicle reached the main road, Hikifele took over and told the woman to return to the backseat, said Haecker.Martin allegedly demanded money and ordered them to keep their heads down and their eyes closed.Haecker said Martin threatened to kill them if they didn’t obey.One of the cars that passed the Toyota in the opposite direction was driven by Swiss citizen Joachim Bauer, with his German girlfriend Indra Roy.Bauer testified that, from the way the Toyota was being driven, he suspected that something was wrong and someone might need help.Bauer said he stopped, reversed and as his car drew up alongside the Toyota, Ngikefele jumped out, ran towards his car and opened the passenger-side door.The gunman allegedly grabbed their wallet, climbed over Roy into the back seat and pressed the gun to the back of her head, threatening to shoot her if Bauer made a false move.Bauer said he drove as carefully as possible in fear that the gun might go off.Bauer told the court that the hijacker ordered him to stop near the Swakopmund airfield, where he gave their wallet and credit cards back, got out and told them to drive off while he ran away.Bauer and Roy immediately reported the incident to the Police.Meanwhile, Martin was allegedly trying desperately to get into the back seat of the Toyota.Hauptmann apparently managed to keep him out by kicking at him.While Slavica Haecker got into the driver’s seat, trying to get the vehicle in motion, Martin allegedly ran around to Herbert Haecker’s door.When Martin opened the door, Haecker punched him in the throat.After Martin allegedly threw a rock at the vehicle, Slavica Haecker managed to speed off and drove to the Police station in Swakopmund.