Murder accused Shikwaya linked to five properties

The state has alleged that murder and fraud accused Petrus Shikwaya (21) owns five properties across northern Namibia – claims he has largely denied in court.

These details emerged during Shikwaya’s bail hearing in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Shikwaya is one of six men accused in the murder of Ondangwa-based prosecutor Justine Shiweda.

According to the prosecution, Shikwaya is the registered owner of two plots at Oniipa, as well as additional properties at Onguta location at Ondangwa and Ekuku location at Oshakati.

The state further claims he owns a farming unit located about 56km from Windhoek along the road to Rehoboth.

Public prosecutor Yeukai Kangira yesterday told the court that the properties were allegedly bought on Shikwaya’s behalf by his uncle, Abner Mateus, who is also a co-accused in the matter.

“The police also confiscated a car from you, and this car was bought for you by Abner Mateus,” Kangira said during proceedings.

Kangira said the state has evidence indicating Mateus financed the acquisition of the properties and that Shikwaya transported building materials from Windhoek to Oniipa for construction in the Oshikoto region.

However, Shikwaya denied knowledge of the properties at Oniipa, Ondangwa and Oshakati.

“I have no knowledge of those properties,” he told the court.

He did, however, confirm ownership of the farming unit near Windhoek, saying he bought it himself for N$11 000.

Regarding a confiscated Volkswagen Polo 5, Shikwaya said he bought the vehicle for N$54 000 using funds from his business account, which he said holds money belonging to both himself and Mateus, although most of it was his uncle’s.

Shikwaya, who left school in 2022 and has never been formally employed, testified that he earned income through selling vehicles, second-hand laptops and phones.

He further claimed to be the sole owner of a company, Money Chronicles FX Trading CC, which he said is involved in buying and selling second-hand vehicles.

According to the state, more than N$1 million allegedly defrauded from Sanlam passed through the same bank account.

The prosecution also alleged that the account was used to transfer N$1 200 in two payments of N$600, which was allegedly used to buy the corrosive substance used in the attack on Shiweda.

The state further claims Shikwaya sent N$4 950 to an unknown person on 17 October last year, the day Shiweda was attacked.

Kangira told the court the money was sent to co-accused Petrus Uusiku.

“If I sent the money, it was on instruction of Abner Mateus,” Shikwaya said.

“I did not know I was sending the money to Petrus Uusiku, because I did not have his number at the time,” he said.

The court also heard that Mateus, despite being in police custody at Ondangwa, allegedly used a cellphone SIM card registered in Shikwaya’s name.

Shikwaya said he was unaware that Mateus had been in custody since 2022.

The state further accused Shikwaya of buying a Suzuki vehicle as a gift for Lukas Nekwiyu, allegedly linked to the buying of acid used in the attack on Shiweda on 17 October last year.

The vehicle overturned in the north earlier that month.

Shikwaya, however, testified that he bought the vehicle after being asked by another uncle, Abner Samuel, for use in a Yango business.

Kangira alleged that Shikwaya provided fuel money for the vehicle that transported the acid to Ondangwa.

Samuel is also accused of fraudulently claiming N$253 000 from Sanlam – money which the state alleges was channelled through Shikwaya’s bank account.

Shikwaya admitted in court that his father, who is a soldier, asked him where the money and the cars came from.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.