Namdia robbery accused deny guilt on five charges

Two men charged in connection with a record-setting robbery at the Windhoek head office of the state-owned company Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) in January this year have denied guilt on all of the charges they are facing.

Joel Angula (46), who is a former employee of Namdia, and Sam Shololo (50) pleaded not guilty to five charges during an appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Angula and Shololo are charged with counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and illegal possession of uncut diamonds, and two charges of attempted murder.

The charges emanate from an armed robbery staged at the Namdia head office in Windhoek on 18 January.

Namdia security officer Francis Eiseb (58) was killed when he was shot during the robbery.

One of the alleged robbers, Max Endjala (43), also died from a gunshot injury during the robbery.

It is alleged that diamonds valued at N$314.9 million – a record amount stolen in a robbery in Namibia – were stolen during the heist.

After recording the pleas of the two accused, magistrate Olga Muharukua postponed their case to 19 March 2026, for a decision to be made by the prosecutor general on the prosecution of Angula and Shololo.

Muharukua also said an application by Angula to be granted bail is scheduled to be heard from 18 November.

The two men, who were both arrested in January, are to remain in custody in the meantime.

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