SWAKOPMUND: Alleged kidnappers Veyonne Beukes and Dylan Stramis, was finally granted bail of N.dollars 7000, when they appeared here on Monday.
The duo, who appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court, stands accused of kidnapping a nine-year-old girl in broad daylight at the coastal town on 29 December 2011.
The two allegedly demanded a ransom of N.dollars 30 000 for the girl’s safe return, but were apprehended by the police.
The suspects, who made their first court appearance on 3 January 2012, had their case postponed as a result of investigations not being completed.
During the duo’s court appearance on 06 June, the unit commander of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol)’s criminal investigation unit in Swakopmund, Detective Inspector Moses Uwu-Kheib, stated that, statements of the witnesses are outstanding, as well as the statements from Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC).
Their defence lawyers – Eugene Thomas on behalf of Beukes, and Garoy September on behalf of Stramis – have previously expressed their disappointment in the State for allowing the case to drag on for five months without investigations into the matter being completed.
Thomas told NAMPA after the hearing on Monday (30 July), that Magistrate Hannelie Prinsloo could have postponed the case again, but granted bail instead. The matter was therefore, postponed to 1 October 2012 for the final remand of the Prosecutor General’s decision.
Thomas also indicated that bail came at the right time as his client (Beukes), will be giving birth during the next month.
Upon bail being paid, the suspects were warned to appear at the Swakopmund Magistrate Court on 1 October. In case of failure to appear in court a warrant of arrest may be issued against them and the bail will be provisionally cancelled and the money forfeited to the State.
The bail conditions also indicated that the accused persons should not communicate with the witnesses; the accused persons should also directly report to the person in charge of the Charge office at the Otjimuise Police station every day and may not leave the city limits of Windhoek, except for court appearances.