Six of the nine members of the ‘host’ gang are fighting to be released on bail in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate Court.

The accused persons appeared before Magistrate Erich Dandu on Friday, who postponed their case to 15 August for continuation of the bail application.

The accused persons who are seeking bail are 23-year-old Ronald Kaffer, Zane Mathys,20, Denzel Wolming,25, Michael Hendriks,19, Elton Kooper,26 and 26-year-old Jonathan Mathys.

At the start of the bail hearing last week, all accused persons indicated to the court that they are not flight risks as they intent to stand their trial, while some indicated that they are bread winners for their families.

The group was arrested in April this year and faces 18 charges ranging from theft, assault by threat, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, trespassing, robbery, malicious damage to property, impersonating a member of the police and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

State representative, Lewis Chigunwe, at the start of the bail hearing said the State opposed the granting of bail because the State believes it has a strong case against the accused persons and it is not in the interest of the justice system for bail to be granted.

‘The State fears the accused persons will interfere with witnesses, I am told some escape the police cells to intimidated witnesses. If accused person are released on bail, they will definitely commit further offences and there is also a clear indication that they will not stand trial,’ stressed Chigunwe.

Other accused persons in the case are 23-year-old Brandon Dreyer, who remains in custody, and two minors who were released in the care of their guardians.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency