The state has alleged that murder accused Abner Mateus communicated with a fugitive suspect before and after the attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, while his co-accused and nephew, Petrus Shikwaya, allegedly transferred money to the same suspect minutes after the attack.
Shiweda was shot and doused with corrosive acid at Ondangwa on 17 October last year.
She died in hospital in February.
The allegations emerged yesterday during Shikwaya’s bail hearing in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court, where Mateus testified as a witness in support of his nephew’s application.
Cross-examining Mateus, public prosecutor Yeukai Kangira says the state’s investigation has established that Mateus spoke twice to the wanted suspect on the morning of the attack.
According to Kangira, Mateus communicated with the suspect at 06h21 and again shortly after 07h23, around the time Shiweda was attacked.
She further alleges that Shikwaya transferred N$4 950 to the suspect just 10 minutes after the prosecutor was attacked.
“The applicant wired N$4 950 to an outstanding suspect 10 minutes after Justine was shot, after the deal was done,” Kangira said.
She told the court that the payment followed communications between Mateus and the wanted suspect.
“Immediately after you spoke to the suspect who is on the run, the applicant wired N$4 950 to the number of the suspect,” she said.
Mateus said he cannot remember the alleged transaction and to whom the money was sent.
He dismissed the state’s claims as speculation.
“I am not involved in any deal. The state is sitting with statements.
I could not remember to whom that money was sent. I invite the State to provide more information.
I buy a lot of things from the streets,” he says.
Mateus told the court that when he contacted Shikwaya from custody, their discussions mainly centred on Shikwaya’s studies.
He also denied discussing any criminal activities with co-accused Petrus Uusiku.
Asked about a conversation with Uusiku on 17 October, a few minutes before the attack on Shiweda, Mateus said the discussion was related to the Yango transport business.
“Petrus Uusiku is my friend and he is in the Yango business. I was talking to him about Yango business,” he said.
The hearing also focused on cellphone numbers allegedly used by Mateus.
During his testimony, Mateus confirmed that while in custody, he used a cellphone number registered in Shikwaya’s name.
He also testified that another cellphone number he had used for six or seven years was registered in another person’s name.
Although he initially suggested that he had registered the number himself, he later said he had asked someone else to do so on his behalf.
Mateus has been in custody since his arrest towards the end of 2022 in another case, while Namibia’s mandatory SIM card registration system only came into effect on 1 January 2023.
Explaining the discrepancy, he tells the court that the number had been suspended and that he, therefore, asked someone to register it for him.
However, he could not identify the person who allegedly registered the SIM card for him.
But, Kangira accused him of trying to distance Shikwaya from his activities.
“I put it to you that the sole reason why you are saying you registered the number yourself is because you want to delink the applicant from your dealings,” she said.
The prosecutor further alleged that Mateus deliberately avoided using his own number to conceal criminal activities.
“I put it to you, sir, that your number was not suspended.
The reason you did not want to use your main number is that you wanted to disguise money laundering and the killing of prosecutor Shiweda,” Kangira said.
Mateus rejected the allegation and insisted that his number had been suspended and could not be re-issued.
He nevertheless acknowledged that the number he claims to have used for six or seven years was registered in another person’s name.
Kangira argued that using cellphone numbers registered to other people was part of Mateus’ modus operandi.
“Yes, you are busy.
That is your modus operandi, using people’s numbers to commit crimes,” she said.
She argued that if Shikwaya is granted bail, he could continue assisting Mateus by registering SIM cards and opening bank accounts on his behalf.
“Which prosecutor must die next when he is on bail?” Kangira asked.
Mateus strongly rejected the suggestion that he posed a threat.
“We have not murdered anyone and I have no intention to kill anyone.
We are full Christians,” he told the court.
Kangira then pressed him on the murder of Shiweda.
“Who killed Justine? This is not a joke, sir.”
Mateus responded that he did not know who killed the prosecutor and denied any involvement in the murder.
The bail hearing continues today.
