South African national Chante Coetzee (38) made her first court appearance in the Katima Mulilo Regional Court on Thursday, where a motor vehicle theft case she is involved with was postponed to 16 April.
Coetzee has already applied for a government-funded lawyer through the legal aid department, and is currently awaiting a response before her trial can proceed in the regional court.
She faces charges of theft of a motor vehicle and violations under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. She has been remanded in custody after allegedly fleeing Namibia to Zambia using ungazetted crossing points.
She reportedly hired a vehicle from Kuomboka Guest House and Rentals in the Zambezi region between 24 June and 2 July 2024 to tour Namibia, but is accused of crossing into Zambia without the vehicle owner’s consent.
The vehicle owner lodged a criminal complaint at Katima Mulilo, resulting in Coetzee’s arrest in Zambia on 18 October 2024. A court ruling in Zambia approved her extradition to Namibia in late January 2025.
Her case was transferred from the district court to the regional court in January, where prosecutor Sylvious Malange objected to bail, arguing that the charges against Coetzee are serious and that the state has a strong prima facie case.
The prosecution also considers her a flight risk due to her being a South African, and has emphasised that granting her bail immediately after she was extradited in late January would not be in the public’s interest.
Coetzee was advised to file a formal bail application if she wishes to seek release from custody.
Thursday’s regional court proceedings were presided over by magistrate Beatrice Sibalatani with prosecutor Cedric Mundia representing the state.
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