Murder accused Abner Mateus says it would be unfair for the court to deny bail to his nephew and co-accused, Petrus Shikwaya.
Mateus, who is accused of masterminding the fatal attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda last year, made the remarks while testifying during Shikwaya’s bail hearing in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
He was responding to the state’s contention that it has a strong case against Shikwaya and that granting him bail would not be in the interests of the administration of justice.
“It will be unfair to keep an innocent man in custody based on allegations,” Mateus told the court.
He dismissed the state’s concern that Shikwaya could abscond if released on bail, arguing that the claim was based on mere surmise.
“It is a general thing to say a person will abscond,” he said.
Mateus also challenged the state’s assertion that it has a strong case against Shikwaya.
“I would dispute that the state has a strong case against him if his involvement is linked to the fact that the money he sent was used to buy acid,” he testified.
Shikwaya is accused of sending N$1 200 to Petrus Uusiku, who, together with co-accused Johannes Nghilifavali, allegedly used the money to buy acid that was later used in an attack on Shiweda in October last year.
Mateus insists that the money was sent to buy a service kit for his sedan which he wanted to sell.
According to the state, the acid was bought at a business in Windhoek on 29 September 2025 by Uusiku and Nghilifavali.
State prosecutor Yeukai Kangira alleged that Shikwaya was in contact with Mateus on the day Shiweda was attacked.
Kangira told the court that Shikwaya also transferred N$4 950 to another individual on the same day.
The matter was postponed to next week Tuesday for continuation of bail hearing.
