A Nampower technical support manager who was involved in a car accident earlier this year that resulted in the death of Pauline Idipo (28) made his first court appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
David Mbidi appeared before magistrate Mutafela Muharukua on charges of culpable homicide, and reckless and negligent driving.
State prosecutor Menencia Hinda proposed that the court be remanded to 23 July for further investigation and for Mbidi to obtain legal representation.
The accused said he was yet to obtain legal representation after LegalWise informed him the lawyer ‘M Malumbano’ was not contracted to them.
“. . . and I will receive a new lawyer,” he said.
Mbidi’s bail has been extended to 23 July, and he has been warned not to leave town without informing the police.
According to police reports, the accident took place on 7 February when Mbidi’s car hit the sedan in which Indipo was travelling from behind at full speed, which also resulted in the sedan’s driver sustaining serious injuries.
“The driver was rushed to Katutura State Hospital after sustaining serious injuries, and has been battling for his life in the intensive care unit,” the police say.
Police investigative officer Fredrick Ulenga said Mbidi was found seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle and was the only occupant.
Reports from officials who attended the accident scene alleged that when questioned, Mbidi said the driver of his car fled the scene and was also unknown to him.
He claimed he had no personal details of the driver who was only instructed to drive him to his house in Hochland Park.
DEFEATING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE
However, Indipo’s family allegedly believed conspiracy between the suspect and Ulenga covered up the incident.
Mbidi was only arrested three days after he handed himself over to the police for procedural reasons to appear in court.
An Indipo family spokesperson, who wished to remain anonymous, yesterday told The Namibian they were informed by Ulenga that he was advised by the Windhoek City Police at the scene not to carry out an alcohol and drug test on Mbidi.
“There is no indication in the docket that Mbidi lied to the police officer,” the spokesperson said.
The family says 92 days have passed since the accident and no progress has been made to obtain statements from witnesses or a reading from the vehicle’s speedometer.
The family wants to know why a charge of defeating the course of justice was not brought against Mbidi after the initial police report indicated he had no recollection of the driver’s whereabouts.
“All this critical information is missing from the docket that is in the hands of the prosecutor and this is a great concern to us, as a family,” he said.
The family has taken the matter to detective inspector Raymond Kuiseb, who undertook to reconstruct the details of the accident scene.
NO BREATHALYZER
Court documents show that no breathalyser test was conducted on Mbidi, despite the fact that he was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Kuiseb told Indipo’s family he was not happy with how the police handled the incident.
“I need to be briefed on every serious incident,” he said.
He said it is presumed by law that the person found in the vehicle is the driver until the contrary is proven.
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