State withdraws beer poisoning case

THE State has withdrawn a case of beer poisoning against a prominent Ohangwena businessman and two other people after a forensic test on a glass of beer proved it had not been laced with poison, as alleged.

David Shingindwa, Fillipus Shikambe and Jason Nadipite were accused of placing poison in a customer’s beer glass at a bar at Omafo village, in the Ohangwena Region, in December. The State alleged that Shikambe and Nadipite collaborated to place poison in the beer of a man drinking at a bar owned by Shingindwa.The poison was allegedly slipped into the glass when the drinker went outside, leaving the glass on the counter.When he returned, someone at the bar told him not to drink the beer as it was poisoned.It was alleged that Shingindwa supplied the beer.Shingindwa’s lawyer, Arumugam Thambapilai, told The Namibian yesterday that Government analysts had examined the contents of the beer and had found no trace of a poisonous substance in it.He said the charge against all three was withdrawn.Shingindwa was out on bail of N$10 000.The State alleged that Shikambe and Nadipite collaborated to place poison in the beer of a man drinking at a bar owned by Shingindwa.The poison was allegedly slipped into the glass when the drinker went outside, leaving the glass on the counter.When he returned, someone at the bar told him not to drink the beer as it was poisoned.It was alleged that Shingindwa supplied the beer.Shingindwa’s lawyer, Arumugam Thambapilai, told The Namibian yesterday that Government analysts had examined the contents of the beer and had found no trace of a poisonous substance in it.He said the charge against all three was withdrawn.Shingindwa was out on bail of N$10 000.