Benny Petrus gets off the hook

A CHARGE of inciting public violence that was levelled against union leader Benny Petrus six months ago was withdrawn in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

According to Petrus’s legal counsel, Richard Metcalfe, there was not enough evidence against his client to continue with the case. After Magistrate Gibson Imbili dismissed the charges and declared the accused free to go, Petrus told The Namibian that he was happy with the verdict, but not at all surprised since he believed the accusations to be bogus right from the start.Petrus, Second Vice President of the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers’ Union (Nasawu), was arrested on July 3 at the union’s office in Walvis Bay after he had allegedly made instigating remarks during a protest staged by shebeen owners in Swakopmund some six months ago.He was granted bail of N$5 000 when he appeared in court in Swakopmund shortly after his arrest.Petrus acted as spokesperson for disgruntled shebeen owners at the coast after the Police launched a crackdown on unlicensed backyard taverns, particularly in Walvis Bay’s Kuisebmond and Swakopmund’s Mondesa neighbourhoods, in June.After Magistrate Gibson Imbili dismissed the charges and declared the accused free to go, Petrus told The Namibian that he was happy with the verdict, but not at all surprised since he believed the accusations to be bogus right from the start.Petrus, Second Vice President of the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers’ Union (Nasawu), was arrested on July 3 at the union’s office in Walvis Bay after he had allegedly made instigating remarks during a protest staged by shebeen owners in Swakopmund some six months ago.He was granted bail of N$5 000 when he appeared in court in Swakopmund shortly after his arrest.Petrus acted as spokesperson for disgruntled shebeen owners at the coast after the Police launched a crackdown on unlicensed backyard taverns, particularly in Walvis Bay’s Kuisebmond and Swakopmund’s Mondesa neighbourhoods, in June.