Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Person

Philanda Christiaan

Also known as: Christiaan · judge Philanda Christiaan

High Court judge who presided over Namcor fraud bail appeals and cautioned against informal case labels.

Society

Murder-accused man admits assaulting nine-year-old girl

The News

Edward Nkata, one of three people accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl in Windhoek in January 2020, told police he slapped and kicked the child after questioning her behaviour; the girl subsequently lost consciousness and died from head injuries, after which Nkata claims he disposed of her body by placing it in a rubbish skip and setting it on fire.

9 April 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 9 April

  1. Murder-accused man admits assaulting nine-year-old girl

    Edward Nkata, one of three people accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl in Windhoek in January 2020, told police he slapped and kicked the child after questioning her behaviour; the girl subsequently lost consciousness and died from head injuries, after which Nkata claims he disposed of her body by placing it in a rubbish skip and setting it on fire.

    9 April 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 31 March

  1. High Court grants bail to six Namcor fraud accused

    The High Court upheld appeals by six accused in the Namcor fraud and corruption case, granting them bail with restrictions on travel and movement. Judge Philanda Christiaan cautioned that courts should avoid informal labels like "Fuelrot" in discussing criminal cases, as such terminology can imply prejudgement and undermine public trust in judicial impartiality.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 30 March

  1. High Court overturns bail refusal in Namcor fraud case

    Windhoek High Court judges found that a magistrate misdirected himself in refusing bail to six individuals accused in a purported N$400 million fraud at Namcor, citing selective assessment of evidence and failure to consider individualised circumstances and mitigating bail conditions. The six appellants—Peter and Malakia Elindi, Immanuel Mulunga, Olivia Dunaiski, Leo Nandago, and Jennifer Hamukwaya—were granted bail ranging from N$20,000 to N$50,000, subject to travel restrictions and regular reporting requirements.

    30 March 2026 · New Era

Friday 27 March

  1. High Court grants bail to six in Namcor fraud case

    Six individuals charged in the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia fraud and corruption case have been granted bail by the Windhoek High Court after successful appeals, with the court finding material misdirections in the magistrate's earlier refusal. The accused include former Namcor executives and businessmen and are subject to strict conditions including movement restrictions and reporting requirements.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian

  2. High Court grants bail to six in Namcor corruption case

    A High Court appeals panel has granted bail to six accused persons in the Namcor fraud and corruption case, including former Namcor executives Jennifer Hamukwaya and Immanuel Mulunga, after they appealed against a Magistrate's Court refusal. Bail amounts range from N$20,000 to N$50,000, with conditions requiring reporting to the Anti-Corruption Commission twice weekly, surrendering travel documents, and not interfering with investigations.

    27 March 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Gym instructor accused of murdering ex-girlfriend appears in High Court

    Tjizake Murangi, a former gym instructor, made his first appearance in the Windhoek High Court on Tuesday, accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend Frieda Amadhila eight times in her apartment in April 2024. The prosecutor general decided to try him in the upper court due to the seriousness of the crime; he remains in custody after being denied bail and a pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for 28 April.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 16 February

  1. Defence claims Namcor bail hearing lacked impartiality and competence

    A defence lawyer told the High Court that the magistrate's bail hearing for six individuals charged with fraud and corruption at Namcor was not conducted impartially or competently. The six accused, including former Namcor managing director Imms Mulunga and businessmen Peter and Malakia, are appealing against the magistrate's September refusal of bail in connection with alleged Namcor fraud involving the sale of filling station assets and unpaid fuel purchases.

    16 February 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 15 February

  1. Namcor fraud accused challenge magistrate's bail refusal in High Court

    Six individuals charged in connection with alleged fraud and corruption at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia are appealing a magistrate's decision to refuse bail, with their lawyers arguing the magistrate adopted a hostile and selective approach to the evidence. The state alleges the accused were involved in fraudulent transactions relating to filling station assets sold to a Namcor subsidiary and fuel purchases that exceeded credit limits.

    15 February 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 13 February

  1. Namcor fraud accused challenge selective evidence in bail appeal

    Six individuals charged with defrauding Namcor are appealing a magistrate's refusal of bail, with their legal representatives arguing that the magistrate selectively assessed evidence in favour of the investigation officer while overlooking material facts and the accused's own concessions. The appellants contend the magistrate failed to properly consider disputed issues including the strength of the state's case and individual circumstances of each accused.

    13 February 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 28 January

  1. Two Walvis Bay men charged with murdering bank employee in 2023

    Quanito van Vuuren and Moses Sem are accused of murdering, raping, and robbing bank employee Vernon Gavin on 30 December 2023. Their trial date is expected to be set on 29 January 2026 after a pre-trial appearance before the Windhoek High Court.

    28 January 2026 · New Era

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