Treason accused all healthy as poison plot fears fizzle

CLAIMS by some Caprivi high treason trial suspects that an attempt would be made to poison them over the Christmas-New Year period have come to nothing.

Namibian prison authorities and defence lawyers involved in the case both say the treason suspects being held at Grootfontein Prison emerged from the festive season unscathed, without any indication that there was any substance behind the talk of a poisoning plot. Fears that the treason suspects were the targets of a poison plot to be carried out between December 23 and 31 were raised shortly before Christmas in a letter one of the high treason accused sent to The Namibian.The letter claimed the accused had received word that Namibian Defence Force members held a meeting at the Grootfontein Military Base in the first week of December, where a plot to poison the detainees over Christmas was hatched.The plot purportedly aimed to rid the State of high treason suspects the plotters believed would escape conviction in their High Court trial.Senior officers from both the Prisons Service and the NDF dismissed the plot claims out of hand when first asked to comment just before Christmas.Contacted by The Namibian earlier this month, Deputy Prisons Commissioner Fwafwa Mabakeng described the situation at the Grootfontein prison, where about 120 of the high treason suspects are awaiting trial, as “calm” and “normal” over Christmas and New Year.The head of the Police investigation team working on the case, Deputy Commissioner Abraham Maasdorp, said on Monday that nothing untoward had happened to any of the suspects over the holiday season.Defence lawyers Percy McNally and Patrick Kauta added that, according to reports received from Grootfontein, their clients in custody there remained in normal health throughout December.The high treason accused are scheduled to return to the High Court at Grootfontein on Monday.Judge Elton Hoff is to continue hearing evidence on a special plea lodged on behalf of 13 of the 120 accused.The 13 claim they were abducted from Zambia or Botswana and that, because their transfer was carried out illegally, the Namibian court system lacks jurisdiction to try them on the 278 charges they and their co-accused face.Fears that the treason suspects were the targets of a poison plot to be carried out between December 23 and 31 were raised shortly before Christmas in a letter one of the high treason accused sent to The Namibian. The letter claimed the accused had received word that Namibian Defence Force members held a meeting at the Grootfontein Military Base in the first week of December, where a plot to poison the detainees over Christmas was hatched. The plot purportedly aimed to rid the State of high treason suspects the plotters believed would escape conviction in their High Court trial. Senior officers from both the Prisons Service and the NDF dismissed the plot claims out of hand when first asked to comment just before Christmas. Contacted by The Namibian earlier this month, Deputy Prisons Commissioner Fwafwa Mabakeng described the situation at the Grootfontein prison, where about 120 of the high treason suspects are awaiting trial, as “calm” and “normal” over Christmas and New Year. The head of the Police investigation team working on the case, Deputy Commissioner Abraham Maasdorp, said on Monday that nothing untoward had happened to any of the suspects over the holiday season. Defence lawyers Percy McNally and Patrick Kauta added that, according to reports received from Grootfontein, their clients in custody there remained in normal health throughout December. The high treason accused are scheduled to return to the High Court at Grootfontein on Monday. Judge Elton Hoff is to continue hearing evidence on a special plea lodged on behalf of 13 of the 120 accused. The 13 claim they were abducted from Zambia or Botswana and that, because their transfer was carried out illegally, the Namibian court system lacks jurisdiction to try them on the 278 charges they and their co-accused face.