Former Swapo deputy minister in hot water

Former Swapo deputy minister in hot water Former deputy land reform minister Theo Diergaardt and his co-accused Willem Cloete made a brief appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of fraud and forgery.

Diergaardt was given bail of N$20 000, while Cloete was granted bail of N$50 000. They had by yesterday however, failed to pay their bail amounts and remained in custody. The two men are accused of allegedly defrauding a German couple out of their property. Cloete is also charged with allegedly defrauding a businessman.

It is alleged that Cloete in 2013 wrongfully, unlawfully, falsely and with intent defrauded Ronald and Martha zu Bentheim as well as the deeds office, by pretending he had the authority by general power of attorney to sell the couple's home in Bismarck Street, Windhoek. Diergaardt, who is facing a charge of fraud, is accused of unlawfully and falsely forging a general power of attorney, which resulted in the German couple losing their home.

Cloete is also accused of having defrauded businessman Horst Anton Landstatz. The charge sheet indicates that Cloete during November 2013 and January 2016 wrongfully, unlawfully, falsely and with intent pretended to be the owner of two apartments at Zanzibar Court in Otjomuise.

Cloete is alleged to have sold the two Otjomuise flats to Landstatz, who paid him with 290 cattle valued at about N$1.2 million.

The case was postponed until 8 August for further investigation.

As part of his bail conditions, Cloete had to hand over his travel documents to the police, and upon paying bail, has to report twice a week to the commercial crime investigating officer.



CATHERINE SASMAN