BEHIND BARS: Derick Brockerhoff during his arrest in Windhoek earlier this year.Photo: File
BEHIND BARS: Derick Brockerhoff during his arrest in Windhoek earlier this year.Photo: File

Game poacher's accomplice pleads guilty

Francoise Steynberg
Markus Rooinasie (27), the co-accused of serial game poacher Derick Brockerhoff, pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal hunting of huntable game.

Both appeared on this charge after a well-known neighbourhood watch member and security officer caught them with a chamois and kudu carcass and a Remington hunting rifle in the mountains behind Windhoek's Eros neighbourhood on 11 April.

They appeared before Magistrate Monica Andjaba in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. She adjourned the case until 23 October.

The 47-year-old Brockerhoff is a habitual criminal who, in 2016 and 2023, was found guilty of illegal hunting, the illegal possession of firearms and the burglary of a Karibib farmhouse.

During their first appearance, the public prosecutor pointed out that Brockerhoff had numerous pending cases - ranging from livestock theft to game poaching - brought against him. The alleged violations apparently extend from Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Sossusvlei and Sesriem in the Namib-Naukluftpark to Mariental, Groot Aub, Seeis and Windhoek.

Brockerhoff was also arrested in 2017 at Arandis in the Erongo Region in connection with cocaine smuggling. This while there are still outstanding warrants for his arrest.

He and Rooinasie have been in custody since their arrest after farmers protested to oppose bail at their first appearance. Brockerhoff then indicated that he would get a private lawyer and Rooinasie legal aid, but both defendants were without legal representation on Tuesday.

Brockerhoff has indicated that he will defend himself.



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Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

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