Copper theft suspects remanded in custody

The Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court yesterday denied bail to two suspects charged with the theft of a container of blister copper valued at N$2.92 million. They were arrested last week Thursday. Magistrate Andre Matulich remanded 43-year-old Michael Narib and 32-year-old Robert Mukuena, back into police custody after the two men made their first court appearance yesterday. During their appearance, the two accused indicated to Matulich that they will bring formal bail applications today. It is alleged that the two men are part of a criminal syndicate behind the theft of containers in the coastal town. According to court documents, both accused were allegedly caught red-handed while attempting to load the copper-filled container onto a truck belonging to P. Weekly Transport in the Walvis Bay suburb of Meersig. The container was one of two - with a combined value of N$6.2 million - that went missing in September. The containers were supposed to have been shipped to Belgium and Netherlands from the Tsumeb Copper Smelter at the time they went missing. The Erongo police’s acting crimes’ coordinator, Inspector Erastus Ikuyu, told Namibian Sun that investigations are still ongoing and added they will soon close in on others suspected to be involved. “We haven’t arrested anyone yet, apart from the two men. Investigations are going well, but we cannot give out further details at this stage,” said Ikuyu. Narib and Mukuena’s arrest followed just weeks after four men appeared before the same court, after allegedly being implicated in the theft of a container. Abel Paulus, 32, Lazarus Shipulwa, 32, Brendan Chika Sanjahi, 32, and Leon Chombo Simaata, 27, are currently out on bail of N$20 000 each. The men were arrested between September 23 and 24 and they will appear in court again on November 4. WINDHOEK FAITH SANKWASA