Helvi Shikalepo

Also known as: Magistrate Helvi Shikalepo

Magistrate who denied bail for Joel Angula, a former Namdia security officer charged in connection with a N$335.6 million diamond heist in January 2024.

2026-01-202026-09-07

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

January 2026
22 JanNew Era
Magistrate Helvi Shikalepo postponed the matter to 27 January for continuation of bail hearing
Source
“Magistrate Helvi Shikalepo postponed the matter to 27 January for continuation of the bail hearing in Windhoek Magistrate's Court.”
Namdia murder accused ‘will interfere with investigations’

Society

Defence lawyer claims weak case against Namdia robbery accused

The News

A lawyer for Joel Angula, a former Namdia protection officer facing charges in connection with a fatal armed robbery at Namdia's Windhoek head office in January last year, argued in the High Court that the case against him is "very weak" during a bail appeal hearing. Angula and two co-accused are facing 10 charges including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and theft of diamonds.

18 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 18 August

Defence lawyer claims weak case against Namdia robbery accused
A lawyer for Joel Angula, a former Namdia protection officer facing charges in connection with a fatal armed robbery at Namdia's Windhoek head office in January last year, argued in the High Court that the case against him is "very weak" during a bail appeal hearing. Angula and two co-accused are facing 10 charges including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and theft of diamonds.
18 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 15 June

High Court dismisses Angula's bail appeal on technical grounds
A High Court appeal by Joel Angula, a former Namib Diamonds protection officer, to overturn a bail denial was dismissed due to an incomplete bail record lacking the investigating officer's testimony. Angula faces eight counts including murder in connection with an armed robbery where diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were allegedly stolen from the NAMDIA head office.
15 June 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 20 May

Former NAMDIA officer appeals bail denial in diamond theft case
Joel Angula, a former protection officer at state-owned NAMDIA, has appealed his bail denial in the High Court, arguing through his lawyer that the State has not established a chain of custody for diamonds found at his residence and that the magistrate ignored legal provisions for a fine. Angula faces eight counts, including murder, in connection with an armed robbery at NAMDIA where diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were allegedly stolen; 13 parcels valued at about N$4.8 million were found at his home, while over N$290 million of the stolen diamonds remain unrecovered.
20 May 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 9 April

Former bank employee held over N$4 million fraud
A former Standard Bank Namibia employee has been arrested and charged with 12 counts of fraud for allegedly transferring N$4 million from clients' accounts to her own between April and August 2024. She is being held in custody pending further investigations and a court appearance on 18 May.
9 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 April

Former Standard Bank employee charged with fraud case
A former Standard Bank Namibia employee has been charged with 12 counts of fraud after allegedly withdrawing N$4 million from client accounts between April and August 2024. The Windhoek Magistrate's Court denied bail and postponed the case to 18 May for further investigations.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

Ex-MP Booys' sixth bail application rejected by court
Former member of parliament Steve Biko Booys has had his sixth bail request dismissed in the Windhoek Regional Court while facing rape charges. The magistrate ruled that the new facts presented were either not genuinely new or did not overcome previous grounds for detention, noting that Booys' trial delays stemmed partly from his own actions including changing defence lawyers and requesting the magistrate's recusal.
25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 18 March

Former councillor Booys makes sixth bail attempt in rape trial
Steve Biko Booys, a former National Council member, has filed a sixth bail application in connection with rape charges stemming from an alleged incident at his Okahandja home in January 2021. He has been in custody for five years; the prosecution argues there are no new facts in the application and cites DNA evidence and text message records as incriminating evidence, while the defence contends the state's case is weak.
18 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 February

Magistrates testify Avis Dam murder confessions were voluntary
Two magistrates testified in the Windhoek High Court that two men accused of robbing and murdering a resident at Avis Dam in July 2020 voluntarily made confessions after their arrests, with neither man reporting threats or coercion when statements were recorded in November 2020.
27 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 February

Former Namdia guard denied bail in N$335m diamond heist case
Magistrate Helvi Shikalepo refused bail for Joel Angula, a former Namdia security officer arrested in connection with a January 2024 armed robbery at the company's Windhoek headquarters in which diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were stolen and a security officer was killed. Shikalepo ruled that although the state has a prima facie case against Angula, his continued detention is in the interest of justice pending trial.
24 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 7 February

Namdia robbery accused awaits bail ruling in February
Joel Angula, a former Namdia security officer charged with murder and robbery in connection with a January 2024 heist at the Namdia head office in Windhoek in which a security officer was killed, will learn on 23 February whether he will be released on bail. The state opposes bail, arguing he may abscond or interfere with witnesses, while his defence counsel argues the state's case is weak.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 22 January

Police say Namdia murder accused will interfere with witnesses
During a bail hearing, a Namibian Police chief inspector testified that Joel Angula would likely interfere with witnesses and investigations if released, citing his prior misleading statements and knowledge of witnesses. The inspector also stated that 452 of 512 diamonds robbed from Namdia remain missing and could be disposed of or used for further crimes if the accused is freed.
22 January 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 20 January

Court hears Endjala's pistol killed Namdia guard in diamond heist
Police ballistics evidence presented in Windhoek court shows that a 9mm pistol registered to Max Endjala, one of the alleged robbers who later shot himself, was used to kill Namdia security officer Francis Eiseb during an armed robbery at the company's Windhoek premises in January 2024. Former police officer Joel Angula and Sam Shololo are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and other counts related to the heist in which diamonds valued at about N$335.6 million were stolen.
20 January 2026 · The Namibian →