Acting High Court Judge Moses Chinhengo has dismissed an application by Fishrot accused Sacky Shanghala and his co-accused to postpone their case for up to eight months.
Judge Chinhengo did not entertain Shanghala's application, ordering the former Justice Minister and his co-accused to enter a plea.
Chinhengo's ruling paved the way for the state to put the charges against the accused.
Four men accused in the stabbing and killing of 22-year-old Peter Bocky Amwaalwa made their first appearance in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court.
Amwaalwa was found dead in a pool of blood by members of the police on patrol in Mondesa more than a week ago.
Suspects Ellen Goa-Eiseb (17), Linden Duwe (27), Sidney Jooste (24), and John Meriri (25) face a charge of murder each.
The four, among them a minor, are suspected of inflicting stabbing wounds on Amwaalwa, which caused his death.
The Office of the Prosecutor General wrote to Fishrot accused, Nigel van Wyk's legal representative, confirming that the State will consider favorably an offer he allegedly made to plead guilty to the charge of attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
The Prosecutor General's Office also states in the same letter that it will take into consideration the time Van Wyk has spent in custody and will therefore not counter his legal team's submission that he be slapped with a fine and a suspended sentence.
In a major development in the 'Fishrot' fishing quota fraud and corruption case, the Supreme Court has dismissed the bail appeals of six of the men charged in the case. The decision was announced earlier today.
Former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, his business partner James Hatuikulipi, former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer Mike Nghipunya, Pius Mwatelulo, Otneel Shuudifonya, and Phillipus Mwapopi lodged their appeals after their bail applications were dismissed in the High Court in April last year.
Former Fisheries Minister and Fishrot accused, Bernard Esau, says he is a victim of his co-accused and had nothing to do with their offenses.
Esau is pleading with the court to release him on bail based on new facts.
nbc Digital News published a story yesterday about a 60-year-old retired soldier accused of raping his 14-year-old biological daughter and her 13-year-old friend, and who was denied bail at Ondangwa Magistrate's Court.
In the story, we decided not to reveal the identity of the accused person in order to protect the identities of the two victims.
The media does not only have a legal obligation not to publish any information that might reveal the identity of a rape victim, but also a moral one.
