No trace of fugitive Mostert
No trace of fugitive Mostert

No trace of fugitive Mostert

It is suspected that corruption-accused former magistrate Rooies Mostert might have fled to South Africa.
Ellanie Smit
WINDHOEK

Former magistrate Walter (Rooies) Mostert is still at large after he escaped from the Auas Hills hospital in Windhoek earlier this month.

He had been detained there since August so that he could undergo medical treatment.

Khomas regional police commander Ismael Basson told Namibian Sun that they were still searching for the 62-year-old Mostert, “but that there is currently no trace of him.”

He said it was suspected that Mostert might have fled to South Africa, but this had not been confirmed.

Policeman charged

Meanwhile investigations into the circumstances of Mostert’s escape are continuing.

A Windhoek police officer has been charged with aiding and abetting Mostert.

Inspector Reinhold Nenkavu, who is stationed at the Katutura Magistrate’s Court, has been charged with unlawfully and intentionally assisting Mostert to escape from lawful custody and of defeating the course of justice.

He has made his first court appearance and the matter was postponed to 27 January next year for further investigations.

Corruption and fraud

Mostert had been in custody since 1 May this year. He was arrested near Tses when he tried to return from South Africa to Namibia.

He had been living in the Western Cape for the past three years and the Namibian authorities requested his extradition from South Africa.

Mostert was awaiting trial on 29 charges, including counts under the Anti-Corruption Act and the Immigration Control Act, and counts of money laundering, extortion, fraud and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.

The charges are connected to allegations that in 2021 and 2013, he helped South African citizens to illegally obtain Namibian identity documents by falsely informing the home affairs ministry that they were born at Usakos.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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