Charges to be laid against Ilonga, Kapia

THE Law Society of Namibia is to lay criminal charges against Swapo Youth League leader Paulus Kapia and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Petrus Ilonga.

It said the recent attacks on Judge Elton Hoff by the two were “ill-advised, malicious and poorly informed” and needed to be challenged. Kapia and Ilonga spoke out after Judge Hoff ordered the release of the 13 accused in the Caprivi treason trial.Hoff ruled that the High Court of Namibia had no jurisdiction over the accused as they had been brought into Namibia irregularly without following proper extradition procedures.Kapia reacted angrily, calling the Judge “disloyal and unpatriotic” while Ilonga also reportedly attacked the judiciary.The LSN said it was the duty of people like Kapia and Ilonga to respect the country’s Constitution.”Just as much as everyone is expected to respect the office of the President as Head of State and Government, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council as representatives of our legislature, the judiciary should not be allowed to become the target of ill-advised, malicious and poorly-informed personal attacks like the one that Messrs Paulus Kapia and…Petrus Ilonga have seen fit to launch publicly,” the LSN said in a statement.It said the fact that Kapia and Ilonga held senior positions in the ruling party, Swapo, and occupied democratically elected offices, should mean that they were duty-bound to uphold and defend the fundamental values at the heart of Namibia’s Constitution.The lawyers called on the duo to pursue their grievances and political agendas within the spirit of the Constitution.”The Law Society of Namibia has resolved to lay criminal charges against Messrs Kapia and Ilonga,” the LSN said.Kapia and Ilonga spoke out after Judge Hoff ordered the release of the 13 accused in the Caprivi treason trial.Hoff ruled that the High Court of Namibia had no jurisdiction over the accused as they had been brought into Namibia irregularly without following proper extradition procedures.Kapia reacted angrily, calling the Judge “disloyal and unpatriotic” while Ilonga also reportedly attacked the judiciary.The LSN said it was the duty of people like Kapia and Ilonga to respect the country’s Constitution.”Just as much as everyone is expected to respect the office of the President as Head of State and Government, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council as representatives of our legislature, the judiciary should not be allowed to become the target of ill-advised, malicious and poorly-informed personal attacks like the one that Messrs Paulus Kapia and…Petrus Ilonga have seen fit to launch publicly,” the LSN said in a statement.It said the fact that Kapia and Ilonga held senior positions in the ruling party, Swapo, and occupied democratically elected offices, should mean that they were duty-bound to uphold and defend the fundamental values at the heart of Namibia’s Constitution.The lawyers called on the duo to pursue their grievances and political agendas within the spirit of the Constitution.”The Law Society of Namibia has resolved to lay criminal charges against Messrs Kapia and Ilonga,” the LSN said.