Third Namdia gem-theft accused appears in court
A security guard has appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on a charge of theft of diamonds following an armed robbery at the Windhoek offices of state-owned company Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) nearly three months ago.
Samuel Shipanga (33) appeared in court before magistrate Olga Muharukua yesterday. His case was postponed to 17 June for further investigations to be carried out. Shipanga should be held in custody in the meantime, the magistrate ordered.
Shipanga is charged with a count of theft of diamonds.
It is alleged that he stole four parcels of diamonds, the value of which is undetermined at this stage, at the Namdia offices after a fatal armed robbery at the premises on 18 January.
A Namdia employee, Francis Eiseb (58), was killed when he was shot during the heist.
Two men accused of involvement in the robbery, Joel Angula and Sam Shololo, appeared in court on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and possession of uncut diamonds in January.
Their case was postponed to 23 May. Angula and Shololo are being held in custody in the meantime.
The state is alleging in the robbery charge faced by Angula and Shololo that diamonds valued at N$349 million were stolen during the robbery on 18 January. Namdia, however, said in a statement last month that diamonds with a total value of N$314.9 million were stolen and that diamonds valued at N$40.6 million have been recovered.
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