Photographer arrested for trespassing while stalking Brangelina

SOUTH African photographer John Liebenberg has become the first paparazzo to be arrested while trying to sneak a picture of Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt during their Namibian visit.

Liebenberg was nabbed by Police in the vicinity of the Welwitschia Private Hospital at Walvis Bay on Friday evening, where Jolie is expected to give birth to her first child. As far as could be established, Jolie has neither checked into the hospital, nor has her baby been born yet.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Salmi Katshuna yesterday confirmed Liebenberg’s arrest and said he would appear in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court today on trespassing charges.Liebenberg allegedly tried to gain access to the hospital from adjacent Police offices, which also accommodate the Police Regional Commander, when he was arrested at around 18h00 on Friday.Katshuna said Liebenberg had crossed a part of Police property that was not accessible to the public.She said it was the second time Liebenberg had tried to gain access to the hospital in this manner.Jolie and Pitt arrived in Namibia last month with their two adopted children and have been based at Langstrand most of the time, while also travelling around the country.The area has been cordoned off and placed under tight Police and security watch.During the couple’s stay at the Burning Shore lodge at Langstrand, journalists and paparazzi photographers have been complaining of harassment by private security guards, and several media workers have been deported for not having temporary work permits.On Saturday, the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR) issued a statement condemning what it termed the “molestation and arbitrary deprivation of the liberty” of unsuspecting tourists and residents at the hands of the Namibian Police and the celebrity couple’s security entourage.The NSHR said it was not in agreement with the harassment and deportation of journalists and other media workers in trying to keep them away from Jolie and Pitt.”During the last 26 years I have been an active human rights defender, I have never come across a situation where people who are billed as human rights defenders … at the same time become a source of, or are associated with, so many allegations of human rights violations and other unpleasant controversies,” said NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh.He called upon the authorities to release Liebenberg and to desist from any further hostile acts against local and international media workers.As far as could be established, Jolie has neither checked into the hospital, nor has her baby been born yet.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Salmi Katshuna yesterday confirmed Liebenberg’s arrest and said he would appear in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court today on trespassing charges.Liebenberg allegedly tried to gain access to the hospital from adjacent Police offices, which also accommodate the Police Regional Commander, when he was arrested at around 18h00 on Friday.Katshuna said Liebenberg had crossed a part of Police property that was not accessible to the public.She said it was the second time Liebenberg had tried to gain access to the hospital in this manner.Jolie and Pitt arrived in Namibia last month with their two adopted children and have been based at Langstrand most of the time, while also travelling around the country.The area has been cordoned off and placed under tight Police and security watch.During the couple’s stay at the Burning Shore lodge at Langstrand, journalists and paparazzi photographers have been complaining of harassment by private security guards, and several media workers have been deported for not having temporary work permits.On Saturday, the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR) issued a statement condemning what it termed the “molestation and arbitrary deprivation of the liberty” of unsuspecting tourists and residents at the hands of the Namibian Police and the celebrity couple’s security entourage.The NSHR said it was not in agreement with the harassment and deportation of journalists and other media workers in trying to keep them away from Jolie and Pitt.”During the last 26 years I have been an active human rights defender, I have never come across a situation where people who are billed as human rights defenders … at the same time become a source of, or are associated with, so many allegations of human rights violations and other unpleasant controversies,” said NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh.He called upon the authorities to release Liebenberg and to desist from any further hostile acts against local and international media workers.