Murder suspects allege abuse
At a hearing yesterday in Walvis Bay, two of the murder suspects in the killing of Hans Möller say their rights are being infringed upon.
Two of the five suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Hans Möller alleged that reserve force officers responsible for their transportation from Windhoek to Walvis Bay for court appearances are ill-treating them.
The accused appeared before Magistrate John Sindano yesterday. He postponed the case against Gotlieb Panduleni (30), David Tashiya (29), David Shekundja (35), Elly Hinaivali (29) and Malakia Shiweda (28) for further investigation to 28
February.
Mpokiseng Dube, who represents Tashiya and Shekundja, informed the court that his clients were not happy with the manner in which they are being transported from Windhoek to Walvis Bay.
“The way in which the accused are transported is not conducive to their safety. Their hands are cuffed behind their backs. Tashiya fell, banged and injured his head and requested to taken to hospital so that his injuries could be assessed.”
Panduleni told the court that he had not eaten for two days and accused the officers responsible for driving the van in which they are being transported of not doing it in a proper manner.
“I injured my back in the process. Our hands are handcuffed behind our backs and we fall around when the van moves at high speeds. I normally stand up straight in court and when I drink my pills. I am now unable to do so due to the injury I suffered while being transported from Windhoek.”
Sindano advised Dube to lodge a formal complaint with regard to the conduct of the officers responsible for the transportation of the accused.
“The accused should be treated with dignity. They are innocent until proven guilty even if the police view them as being guilty, they should trust the due process. The injured accused should request that the police take him to hospital,” said Sindano.
The accused are facing murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery and attempted murder charges related to a crime committed on 17 June.
Carol-Anne Möller (48) the wife of the deceased Hans Möller said the accused should have thought about their human rights when they committed the crime that resulted in her husband's death.
“What about the rights of my husband who was shot in cold blood? They even tied me up and prevented me from calling an ambulance and now they are complaining about their rights being infringed.”
A smaller crowd with placards requesting bail to be denied for murderers, attended yesterday's court proceedings.
Prosecutor Tresia Hafeni previously opposed bail for the suspects due to the seriousness of the case and said it would not be in the interest of justice to release them on bail and that they could flee.
Carol-Anne maintains there are eight persons involved in committing the crime which claimed the life of her husband and announced a N$50 000 reward per person (N$150 000 in total) for information that could lead to the arrest of three other suspects still on the run.
“The gate to our premises was opened with a key and I therefore believe there was an insider involved. I positively identified four of the accused. One pressed a knife against my neck and cut me while demanding money. Another one tied me up after my husband was shot. My eldest daughter is still traumatised.”
Tashiya and Shekundja were arrested first in connection with the case on 18 June. Gotlieb was arrested on 19 June. Hinaivali and Shiweda were arrested on 22 June.
OTIS FINCK
The accused appeared before Magistrate John Sindano yesterday. He postponed the case against Gotlieb Panduleni (30), David Tashiya (29), David Shekundja (35), Elly Hinaivali (29) and Malakia Shiweda (28) for further investigation to 28
February.
Mpokiseng Dube, who represents Tashiya and Shekundja, informed the court that his clients were not happy with the manner in which they are being transported from Windhoek to Walvis Bay.
“The way in which the accused are transported is not conducive to their safety. Their hands are cuffed behind their backs. Tashiya fell, banged and injured his head and requested to taken to hospital so that his injuries could be assessed.”
Panduleni told the court that he had not eaten for two days and accused the officers responsible for driving the van in which they are being transported of not doing it in a proper manner.
“I injured my back in the process. Our hands are handcuffed behind our backs and we fall around when the van moves at high speeds. I normally stand up straight in court and when I drink my pills. I am now unable to do so due to the injury I suffered while being transported from Windhoek.”
Sindano advised Dube to lodge a formal complaint with regard to the conduct of the officers responsible for the transportation of the accused.
“The accused should be treated with dignity. They are innocent until proven guilty even if the police view them as being guilty, they should trust the due process. The injured accused should request that the police take him to hospital,” said Sindano.
The accused are facing murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery and attempted murder charges related to a crime committed on 17 June.
Carol-Anne Möller (48) the wife of the deceased Hans Möller said the accused should have thought about their human rights when they committed the crime that resulted in her husband's death.
“What about the rights of my husband who was shot in cold blood? They even tied me up and prevented me from calling an ambulance and now they are complaining about their rights being infringed.”
A smaller crowd with placards requesting bail to be denied for murderers, attended yesterday's court proceedings.
Prosecutor Tresia Hafeni previously opposed bail for the suspects due to the seriousness of the case and said it would not be in the interest of justice to release them on bail and that they could flee.
Carol-Anne maintains there are eight persons involved in committing the crime which claimed the life of her husband and announced a N$50 000 reward per person (N$150 000 in total) for information that could lead to the arrest of three other suspects still on the run.
“The gate to our premises was opened with a key and I therefore believe there was an insider involved. I positively identified four of the accused. One pressed a knife against my neck and cut me while demanding money. Another one tied me up after my husband was shot. My eldest daughter is still traumatised.”
Tashiya and Shekundja were arrested first in connection with the case on 18 June. Gotlieb was arrested on 19 June. Hinaivali and Shiweda were arrested on 22 June.
OTIS FINCK
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