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

Veiko Alexander

Also known as: defence lawyer Veiko Alexander · Alexander

Defence lawyer who cross-examined state witnesses in the Joel Angula diamond heist bail hearing, questioning common purpose charges.

Society

Cross-border investigations delay Namdia diamond heist trial

The News

The trial of two suspects in the Namdia diamond heist, in which N$345 million in diamonds were stolen and two people died, has stalled as police conduct joint investigations across multiple jurisdictions in Noordoewer, Keetmanshoop, and Windhoek. The Prosecutor General's final decision on whether to proceed to trial has been delayed pending completion of these investigations and recovery of related dockets.

20 March 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 20 March

  1. Cross-border investigations delay Namdia diamond heist trial

    The trial of two suspects in the Namdia diamond heist, in which N$345 million in diamonds were stolen and two people died, has stalled as police conduct joint investigations across multiple jurisdictions in Noordoewer, Keetmanshoop, and Windhoek. The Prosecutor General's final decision on whether to proceed to trial has been delayed pending completion of these investigations and recovery of related dockets.

    20 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Former justice minister seeks judge's recusal in fisheries trial

    Former justice minister Shanghala has applied for High Court acting judge Marelize du Plessis to recuse herself from his corruption trial, arguing her statements characterizing his applications as delay tactics and her treatment of parties demonstrate bias. Co-accused and their legal representatives also challenge the judge's competence and impartiality.

    10 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 24 February

  1. 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 →

  2. Diamond heist suspect denied bail by Windhoek magistrate

    Former Namib Desert Diamonds security officer Joel Angula was denied bail in connection with a N$315-million diamond heist at Namdia's premises last year. Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo ruled that the interest of justice dictates his continued detention pending trial, finding a prima facie case against him despite his assertions that he poses no flight risk and the State's case is weak.

    24 February 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 7 February

  1. 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 →

Wednesday 28 January

  1. Joel Angula bail hearing continues on Friday

    Final submissions in the bail application of Joel Angula, accused of murder, robbery, and theft of diamonds at Namdia, will be heard on Friday after the State's case closed on the previous hearing. Angula denies all charges and claims he was tied up during the robbery incident, while a police witness testified that Angula was absent for three hours after the crime.

    28 January 2026 · New Era →

Friday 23 January

  1. Judge finds Shanghala and co-accused delaying Fishrot trial

    Acting judge Marilize du Plessis ruled that former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and two co-accused have been using a strategy to delay their Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering trial, which has been pending since October 2021 without witness testimony yet beginning. Du Plessis rejected their postponement applications and ordered the trial to continue, though she granted a brief postponement to allow defence representation time to prepare.

    23 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 22 January

  1. 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 →

Wednesday 21 January

  1. Defence challenges "common purpose" charges in NAMDIA diamond heist case

    Defence lawyer Veiko Alexander cross-examined a State witness in the bail hearing for Joel Angula, a former police officer accused of murder and diamond theft in a January 2025 NAMDIA heist, questioning whether the "common purpose" charges are justified and arguing that attempted murder counts should be treated as assault charges instead.

    21 January 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 20 January

  1. 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 →

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