N$15 000 bail granted in livestock theft case
Die klaer, Sarel Oberholzer en die beskuldigde, André Blaauw, was voorheen sakevennote wie se verhouding klaarblyklik versuur het.
A Keetmanshoop man facing livestock theft charges, 41-year-old André Blaauw, was released on N$15 000 bail in the Aranos Magistrate's Court in the Hardap Region on Friday.
Blaauw was arrested on Wednesday, 29 January, at the Aranos auction kraals in connection with the alleged theft of 56 cattle and 28 sheep from the farm Coenbritz in the Aranos district, owned by well-known South African businessman Sarel Oberholzer.
Blaauw made his first appearance at the Aranos Magistrate's Court on 31 January and was initially denied bail.
According to Oberholzer, additional charges had since been filed against him in the Gochas district.
Last Tuesday, Blaauw lodged an urgent bail application, which concluded on Thursday when bail was granted. However, he only gained his freedom on Friday. He was scheduled to appear that day in the Gochas case, which involved the alleged theft of gates and feed troughs, but the charge was withdrawn.
Former business partners
Oberholzer, a South African citizen with multiple farms and business interests in Namibia, alleges that these cases are just the tip of the iceberg in what he claims could result in one of Namibia’s biggest livestock theft and fraud cases.
In 2023, he made headlines as a board member of the embattled August 26 Logistics company. He and Blaauw were previously business partners, but their relationship has seemingly soured.
"Although Blaauw is currently charged with the theft of 56 cattle and 100 sheep, further investigations are underway regarding approximately 3 727 cattle, as well as fraud investigations amounting to N$30 million," reads a statement issued by Oberholzer’s legal representative, Gerhard van den Heever of the Keetmanshoop law firm Lentin, Botma & Van Den Heever, provided to Network Media Hub (NMH) last week.
The statement further notes that the ongoing investigations also point to a close corporation [name withheld], of which a family member of Blaauw [name withheld] is allegedly the sole member, "who miraculously became the owner of Sarel Oberholzer’s cattle in the absence of any sales or lease agreement to validate the change of ownership to the close corporation."
Allegations denied
NMH contacted Blaauw on Saturday for comment. He denied all charges against him and referred NMH to his legal representative, Louis la Grange of La Grange Legal Practitioners in Keetmanshoop, for further comment to avoid jeopardising his case.
"We are conducting an investigation. The investigation is sensitive at this stage. We will issue a statement later regarding the charges pending against him," La Grange told NMH.
Blaauw’s case has been postponed to 6 March in the Aranos Magistrate's Court.
Swift action
Oberholzer praised the Hardap Region’s police officers for their swift investigation and action following the Aranos charges.
However, in the statement, Oberholzer also expressed concern about the livestock theft cases filed with the Keetmanshoop livestock theft unit, adding that it has so far been difficult to receive feedback from the investigating officers.
Blaauw was arrested on Wednesday, 29 January, at the Aranos auction kraals in connection with the alleged theft of 56 cattle and 28 sheep from the farm Coenbritz in the Aranos district, owned by well-known South African businessman Sarel Oberholzer.
Blaauw made his first appearance at the Aranos Magistrate's Court on 31 January and was initially denied bail.
According to Oberholzer, additional charges had since been filed against him in the Gochas district.
Last Tuesday, Blaauw lodged an urgent bail application, which concluded on Thursday when bail was granted. However, he only gained his freedom on Friday. He was scheduled to appear that day in the Gochas case, which involved the alleged theft of gates and feed troughs, but the charge was withdrawn.
Former business partners
Oberholzer, a South African citizen with multiple farms and business interests in Namibia, alleges that these cases are just the tip of the iceberg in what he claims could result in one of Namibia’s biggest livestock theft and fraud cases.
In 2023, he made headlines as a board member of the embattled August 26 Logistics company. He and Blaauw were previously business partners, but their relationship has seemingly soured.
"Although Blaauw is currently charged with the theft of 56 cattle and 100 sheep, further investigations are underway regarding approximately 3 727 cattle, as well as fraud investigations amounting to N$30 million," reads a statement issued by Oberholzer’s legal representative, Gerhard van den Heever of the Keetmanshoop law firm Lentin, Botma & Van Den Heever, provided to Network Media Hub (NMH) last week.
The statement further notes that the ongoing investigations also point to a close corporation [name withheld], of which a family member of Blaauw [name withheld] is allegedly the sole member, "who miraculously became the owner of Sarel Oberholzer’s cattle in the absence of any sales or lease agreement to validate the change of ownership to the close corporation."
Allegations denied
NMH contacted Blaauw on Saturday for comment. He denied all charges against him and referred NMH to his legal representative, Louis la Grange of La Grange Legal Practitioners in Keetmanshoop, for further comment to avoid jeopardising his case.
"We are conducting an investigation. The investigation is sensitive at this stage. We will issue a statement later regarding the charges pending against him," La Grange told NMH.
Blaauw’s case has been postponed to 6 March in the Aranos Magistrate's Court.
Swift action
Oberholzer praised the Hardap Region’s police officers for their swift investigation and action following the Aranos charges.
However, in the statement, Oberholzer also expressed concern about the livestock theft cases filed with the Keetmanshoop livestock theft unit, adding that it has so far been difficult to receive feedback from the investigating officers.
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