SA murder accused allowed to travel to Namibia
South Africa’s bail conditions were recently relaxed for a double murder suspect to allow him to travel to a farm near Otjiwarongo this month.Japie Claassens is a farmer from Vioolsdrif who stands accused of having shot and killed lawyer Coenie de Beer and protea farmer James Kriel on his smallholding in October last year. He is currently on trial on two counts of murder.
De Beer apparently spent the night at Claassens’ house in Vioolsdrif with his son Coenraad, Kriel and Grant Thompson, who is a friend of Claassens, the night before they were set to leave on holiday. De Beer and Kriel were only acquaintances of Claassens.
The incident reportedly took place in the early hours of the morning and, according to South African media reports, one of the victims was sleeping when he was shot. The two victims died in hospital on 1 November.
Claassens reportedly handed himself over to the police after the shooting. He was later released on N$5 000 bail under strict bail conditions which included that he must surrender his passport to the authorities and report to the nearest police station every Saturday.
Visiting sick aunt
The Magistrate’s Court in Springbok recently amended Claassens’ bail conditions to allow him to travel to Namibia to visit his sick aunt on a farm near Otjiwarongo. The magistrate in question approved Claassens’ application for the visit, despite the fact that the South African prosecuting authority was against it.
Claassens will temporarily get his passport back to visit Namibia from 14 to 24 June and will have to report to the police office in Otjiwarongo on 15 June and every third day thereafter.
He must report back to Vioolsdrif police station in South Africa on 25 June and appear before the court in Springbok again on 26 June.
When contacted for comment, Namibian Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said: “South Africa and Namibia have an extradition agreement. So, if a request is sent to Interpol in Windhoek for the accused’s arrest and extradition, then the Namibian Police will act”.
De Beer apparently spent the night at Claassens’ house in Vioolsdrif with his son Coenraad, Kriel and Grant Thompson, who is a friend of Claassens, the night before they were set to leave on holiday. De Beer and Kriel were only acquaintances of Claassens.
The incident reportedly took place in the early hours of the morning and, according to South African media reports, one of the victims was sleeping when he was shot. The two victims died in hospital on 1 November.
Claassens reportedly handed himself over to the police after the shooting. He was later released on N$5 000 bail under strict bail conditions which included that he must surrender his passport to the authorities and report to the nearest police station every Saturday.
Visiting sick aunt
The Magistrate’s Court in Springbok recently amended Claassens’ bail conditions to allow him to travel to Namibia to visit his sick aunt on a farm near Otjiwarongo. The magistrate in question approved Claassens’ application for the visit, despite the fact that the South African prosecuting authority was against it.
Claassens will temporarily get his passport back to visit Namibia from 14 to 24 June and will have to report to the police office in Otjiwarongo on 15 June and every third day thereafter.
He must report back to Vioolsdrif police station in South Africa on 25 June and appear before the court in Springbok again on 26 June.
When contacted for comment, Namibian Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said: “South Africa and Namibia have an extradition agreement. So, if a request is sent to Interpol in Windhoek for the accused’s arrest and extradition, then the Namibian Police will act”.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article