Two suspects in the ongoing corruption case linked to the ||Kharas Regional Council have been granted bail of N$50,000 each by Windhoek Magistrate Lloyd Munyungano.

The pair, including alleged mastermind Titus Ipumbu, made a brief court appearance.

Titus Ipumbu and his 63-year-old mother surrendered to police on Monday, accompanied by their lawyers, following the arrest of former acting ||Kharas Chief Regional Officer Ralph Sachika and his girlfriend, Lucia Jacob.

Jacob has also been granted bail of N$50,000 with conditions attached.

The State opposed bail for Titus Ipumbu, who faces charges of fraud, forgery, and contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, among others.

Prosecutor Menencia Hinda argued that Ipumbu is a flight risk and could interfere with ongoing investigations, adding that releasing him would not be in the interest of the public or the administration of justice.

Maria Ipumbu was represented by lawyer Florian Beukes, while her son was represented by Mbanga Siyomunji.

Court documents allege that N$3.9 million, originally due to August 26 Construction, was fraudulently redirected.

Titus Ipumbu and Ralph Sachika are alleged to have conspired to have the funds deposited into Maria Ipumbu’s bank account. Another amount of about N$500,000 was allegedly deposited into the bank account of Sachika’s minor child.

The magistrate postponed the matter to 12 March for further police investigations.