Cops were warned that Kandara talked of suicide, says his lawyer

SO distraught was the head of Avid Investment Corporation, Lazarus Kandara, at being arrested and accused of stealing the Social Security Commission’s N$30 million, that he told his lawyer Lucius Murorua that he was contemplating suicide.

Kandara’s state of mind and talk that he was harbouring intentions of taking his own life had been conveyed to the Police, Murorua told The Namibian yesterday. Murorua consulted his client at the Police’s Serious Crime Unit on Wednesday shortly after Kandara’s arrest at the High Court on charges of theft and fraud.Murorua said another lawyer, Dirk Conradie, was also present when he told Detective Sergeant Lineker Hilundwa that the Police should keep a watchful eye on Kandara because he had threatened to kill himself.The Namibian understands that Hilundwa was one of the three officers who accompanied Kandara home on the night of his death.In Thursday’s Police’s statement giving their account of what transpired on the night of Kandara’s death, no mention is made that they were informed of Kandara’s alleged suicidal tendencies.Murorua told The Namibian yesterday that at the time he was torn between betraying his client’s trust by warning the Police, but was then reassured by colleagues that he had not broken the attorney-client privilege that existed between him and Kandara by telling the Police that Kandara might be a suicide risk.Asked whether Kandara had explained why he wanted to kill himself, Murorua said: “He told me he did not commit the crime, he did not steal that money …and that he’s going to kill himself.”Murorua recalls that at one stage during their conversation Kandara appeared to be on the verge of crying as he spoke to his lawyer.Kandara’s cousin Gerson Hinda told The Namibian yesterday that Kandara would be buried on Saturday in his hometown of Otjiwarongo.Hinda was one of Kandara’s last family members to see him alive.Kandara was taken at his request by the Police to Hinda’s house to fetch a mattress from Hinda at around 21h00 on Wednesday.Hinda recalls that Kandara had phoned from the Police station ahead of time to say he wanted to collect a mattress from him.Once at his house, Hinda said, Kandara had given no indication that he planned to take his own life.Hinda yesterday rubbished reports that Kandara had made “farewell” phone calls to family members, saying that there was no indication of “farewells” when he made calls to his brother, sister and children from Hinda’s house.”He didn’t say farewell to anybody.We discussed the issue of bail and that we’ll see each other later,” recalls Hinda.”There was no goodbye story.”Hilundwa called Hinda at around 22h28, according to Hinda’s cellphone data, to inform him that Kandara had been shot.He said the family would await ballistic reports before confirming that Kandara had been shot with his own gun.He also dismissed reports in some media that Kandara first went home before going to Hinda’s house.It was the other way round, he said.Hinda said he was aware that Kandara held a gun licence for a hunting rifle used on the farm and a 9mm parabellum.Yesterday, Police said the 9mm Beretta found at the scene of death was registered in Kandara’s name.Hinda told The Namibian yesterday that the family wanted some time to study Police statements about their investigations into Kandara’s death before responding to the claims.Murorua consulted his client at the Police’s Serious Crime Unit on Wednesday shortly after Kandara’s arrest at the High Court on charges of theft and fraud.Murorua said another lawyer, Dirk Conradie, was also present when he told Detective Sergeant Lineker Hilundwa that the Police should keep a watchful eye on Kandara because he had threatened to kill himself.The Namibian understands that Hilundwa was one of the three officers who accompanied Kandara home on the night of his death.In Thursday’s Police’s statement giving their account of what transpired on the night of Kandara’s death, no mention is made that they were informed of Kandara’s alleged suicidal tendencies.Murorua told The Namibian yesterday that at the time he was torn between betraying his client’s trust by warning the Police, but was then reassured by colleagues that he had not broken the attorney-client privilege that existed between him and Kandara by telling the Police that Kandara might be a suicide risk.Asked whether Kandara had explained why he wanted to kill himself, Murorua said: “He told me he did not commit the crime, he did not steal that money …and that he’s going to kill himself.”Murorua recalls that at one stage during their conversation Kandara appeared to be on the verge of crying as he spoke to his lawyer.Kandara’s cousin Gerson Hinda told The Namibian yesterday that Kandara would be buried on Saturday in his hometown of Otjiwarongo.Hinda was one of Kandara’s last family members to see him alive.Kandara was taken at his request by the Police to Hinda’s house to fetch a mattress from Hinda at around 21h00 on Wednesday.Hinda recalls that Kandara had phoned from the Police station ahead of time to say he wanted to collect a mattress from him.Once at his house, Hinda said, Kandara had given no indication that he planned to take his own life.Hinda yesterday rubbished reports that Kandara had made “farewell” phone calls to family members, saying that there was no indication of “farewells” when he made calls to his brother, sister and children from Hinda’s house.”He didn’t say farewell to anybody.We discussed the issue of bail and that we’ll see each other later,” recalls Hinda.”There was no goodbye story.”Hilundwa called Hinda at around 22h28, according to Hinda’s cellphone data, to inform him that Kandara had been shot.He said the family would await ballistic reports before confirming that Kandara had been shot with his own gun.He also dismissed reports in some media that Kandara first went home before going to Hinda’s house.It was the other way round, he said.Hinda said he was aware that Kandara held a gun licence for a hunting rifle used on the farm and a 9mm parabellum.Yesterday, Police said the 9mm Beretta found at the scene of death was registered in Kandara’s name.Hinda told The Namibian yesterday that the family wanted some time to study Police statements about their investigations into Kandara’s death before responding to the claims.