The investigating officer in the case of former agricultural minister Mac Hengari and his co-accused has denied claims that the police were solely focused on arresting Hengari.
Vaino Werner made the remarks during cross examination by state prosecutor Adrie Rieckerts before magistrate Monica Andjaba in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Thursday during a bail hearing for the two co-accused.
On Wednesday, Hengari’s co-accused, who cannot be identified due to his relation to the complainant who filed a rape case against Hengari, testified that Werner visited him on three separate occasions while he was incarcerated at the Windhoek Correctional Facility.
He claimed the visits were attempts to pressure him into pleading guilty and implicating Hengari.
“These are all lies. From the first day I’ve met him I’ve never made any promises to (only) arrest Hengari,” he said.
The co-accused claimed that Werner promised he would only receive a fine and would be allowed to return to his wife and son in Germany.
However, Werner testified that both men were arrested for the crime of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, which carries a hefty penalty.
The police arrested the two accused, the investigator claimed, after building a concrete case.
Hengari and his co-accused have been in police custody since their arrest in Windhoek on 26 April.
Among the charges of obstructing the course of justice, the two men are also facing a charge of corruptly giving gratification and incitement to commit the offence of compounding, which involves unlawfully withdrawing a criminal case in exchange for payment.
The two men allegedly conspired to give to the rape complainant N$220 200 on 26 April to withdraw the rape charge against the former minister.
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