A group of people, arrested for carrying out an armed robbery at the Puma depot in the Northern Industrial Area of Windhoek on Friday and fleeing with N$1.3 million, were denied bail by the Katutura Magistrate’s Court. 

The accused, David Amupolo and Frans Shekutamba, made their first court appearance on Monday, while Simeon Nangolo appeared Tuesday. 

For all accused, prosecutor Arrie Husselmann indicated the State strongly opposed their release on bail. 

He informed the court it would not be in the interest of the public, nor the administration of justice for the accused to be released on
bail. 

He further requested the court for an order to have the accused transferred from the Katutura police station to Windhoek Correctional services for security reasons. 

Magistrate Jo-Rina Jagger granted the State’s request and informed the accused of their right to bring forth formal bail applications if they wished to be released on bail.

Amupolo and his co-accused are charged with a count of robbery with aggravating circumstances and a charge of attempted murder. 

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Friday morning, where Amupolo and his co-accused are said to have ambushed four security guards from a local security company, who were at the Puma depot fuelling point. 

According to the police crime report, the suspects, who were armed, robbed the security team of N$1.3 million they had just collected. 

On the charge of attempted murder, the state is alleging the accused tried to kill one of the security guards, Johannes Dorian, in demand of his service pistol. 

They escaped with the money and three pistols

According to New Era sources, it is alleged that Nangolo, who was arrested on Sunday in Keetmanshoop, was found in possession of four firearms and the N$1.3 million.

 He was allegedly en route to South Africa. 

- mamakali@nepc.com.na