Self-proclaimed prophet back in court
House of Joy Ministries pastor, self-proclaimed prophet and convicted poacher Jackson Babi is back in court as he now faces civil charges related to unpaid rent.
The owner of a property located in Kleine Kuppe in Windhoek is demanding about N$81 000 from Babi and his wife, Maria. This is the same property where authorities found rhino horns in May 2020, which led to Babi's arrest.
Parties appeared in the Windhoek High Court yesterday before Judge Nate Ndauendapo for pre-trial proceedings.
In September 2022, Babi was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and fines totaling N$370 000 or a further 17 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to 11 charges. His charges related to the illegal hunting of protected animals, theft, money laundering, racketeering and bribery. The charges against him also include the illegal supply of a firearm and ammunition.
He appealed his sentence, which was then reduced to two years' imprisonment and fines totaling N$230 000, or a further 15 years' imprisonment if the fines are not paid.
Unpaid rent
The Babi couple rented a property in Kleine Kuppe for a period of one year, which started on 1 April 2020. The rental agreement was later apparently extended on the basis of a verbal agreement until 31 March 2021. The monthly rent amounted to about N$30 000.
The owner of the property, Josua Kaukungwa, is now demanding N$81 418 in damages.
According to Kaukungwa's statement submitted to the court, the couple failed to pay their monthly rent payments for November and December 2021, totaling N$42 602.
A further N$38 815 is claimed from the couple for costs associated with the renovation of the rented property.
Poaching
The felony charges Babi stood trial for were connected to the poaching of a white rhino cow and calf on a farm in the vicinity of Gobabis.
Babi admitted that he provided the gun and ammunition used to kill the two animals and that he later had two rhino horns in his possession in Windhoek.
He also admitted that he was involved in an attempt to sell two rhino horns at Otjiwarongo and offered a bribe of N$13 000 to a Namibian Police officer after his arrest.
Eight men have been linked to the crime, one of whom is believed to have been a police officer.
–[email protected]
The owner of a property located in Kleine Kuppe in Windhoek is demanding about N$81 000 from Babi and his wife, Maria. This is the same property where authorities found rhino horns in May 2020, which led to Babi's arrest.
Parties appeared in the Windhoek High Court yesterday before Judge Nate Ndauendapo for pre-trial proceedings.
In September 2022, Babi was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and fines totaling N$370 000 or a further 17 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to 11 charges. His charges related to the illegal hunting of protected animals, theft, money laundering, racketeering and bribery. The charges against him also include the illegal supply of a firearm and ammunition.
He appealed his sentence, which was then reduced to two years' imprisonment and fines totaling N$230 000, or a further 15 years' imprisonment if the fines are not paid.
Unpaid rent
The Babi couple rented a property in Kleine Kuppe for a period of one year, which started on 1 April 2020. The rental agreement was later apparently extended on the basis of a verbal agreement until 31 March 2021. The monthly rent amounted to about N$30 000.
The owner of the property, Josua Kaukungwa, is now demanding N$81 418 in damages.
According to Kaukungwa's statement submitted to the court, the couple failed to pay their monthly rent payments for November and December 2021, totaling N$42 602.
A further N$38 815 is claimed from the couple for costs associated with the renovation of the rented property.
Poaching
The felony charges Babi stood trial for were connected to the poaching of a white rhino cow and calf on a farm in the vicinity of Gobabis.
Babi admitted that he provided the gun and ammunition used to kill the two animals and that he later had two rhino horns in his possession in Windhoek.
He also admitted that he was involved in an attempt to sell two rhino horns at Otjiwarongo and offered a bribe of N$13 000 to a Namibian Police officer after his arrest.
Eight men have been linked to the crime, one of whom is believed to have been a police officer.
–[email protected]
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