Cops plead not guilty to murder

NINE members of the Police’s Serious Crime Unit and Special Branch at Keetmanshoop have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault following the death of a suspect in custody.

The nine officers are accused of beating to death the suspect, Makarius Iikali, and assaulting four other suspects during questioning in February last year. The four suspects who were allegedly assaulted – Richard Isaak, Benjamin Basson, Samson Ingo and Andreas Kommando – claimed they were beaten repeatedly and shocked with an electric device during the interrogation.Each of the nine officers is charged with murder and four counts of assault.The nine – Cyroll Serogwe, Daniel Nicodemus, Marthinus Punye, Johannes Mushelenga, Heidi Dean, Niklaas !Hoeseb, Fabian Rikambura and unit commanders Jacobus Otto and Lazarus !Nowaseb – made their seventh court appearance in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on Friday.Magistrate Alfred Siboleka postponed the case until March 30 for the Prosecutor General’s decision.Bail of N$1 500 granted to each of the nine officers during their first appearance in April was extended.Percy Mcnally of Lentin, Botma and Van den Heever Legal Practitioners is representing all nine officers.The four suspects who were allegedly assaulted – Richard Isaak, Benjamin Basson, Samson Ingo and Andreas Kommando – claimed they were beaten repeatedly and shocked with an electric device during the interrogation.Each of the nine officers is charged with murder and four counts of assault.The nine – Cyroll Serogwe, Daniel Nicodemus, Marthinus Punye, Johannes Mushelenga, Heidi Dean, Niklaas !Hoeseb, Fabian Rikambura and unit commanders Jacobus Otto and Lazarus !Nowaseb – made their seventh court appearance in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on Friday.Magistrate Alfred Siboleka postponed the case until March 30 for the Prosecutor General’s decision.Bail of N$1 500 granted to each of the nine officers during their first appearance in April was extended.Percy Mcnally of Lentin, Botma and Van den Heever Legal Practitioners is representing all nine officers.