Brakwater robbers get long sentencesJudge Naomi Shivute did not mince words when she sentenced the two convicted robbers. N$5.2 million robbery case ends after 12 years Two men convicted of robbing a cash-in-transit vehicle on the outskirts of Windhoek 12 years ago got cumulative sentences of 30 years in the High Court yesterday.Jan Julius, 45, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances involving N$3.7 million while his co-accused George Jambeinge was sentenced to 10 years for theft involving N$1.5 million, which was part of the money stolen during the robbery.
The two were convicted of the heist committed in the Brakwater area north of Windhoek during the early morning hours of 29 December 2004.
Judge Naomi Shivute in her sentencing arguments said that Julius stole from his employer while he was in a position of trust and that this factor weighed heavily against him.
“The sentences are reasonable and justified.
“The offences were premeditated and that interest of the society heavily outweighs that of the accused,” the judge said. She emphasised that she does not consider a fine or a suspended sentence to be appropriate in the circumstances.
Julius, who was the driver of the cash-in-transit vehicle transporting huge amounts of money to the Erongo Region, had picked up a hitch-hiker as he and a colleague were about to depart from Windhoek.
However, the hitch-hiker turned out to be armed and attacked Julius’ colleague while the cash-in-transit vehicle was passing through Brakwater.
Another robber also surfaced at the scene and along with the so-called hitch-hiker managed to rob the vehicle, before fleeing the scene with large amounts of money.
The court found that Julius helped the hitch-hiker to disarm the security guard Stefanus Iyambo, who acted as his co-driver. In January 2005 an amount of N$1.51 million, which was linked to the money stolen during the robbery, was found in a trunk in the boot of a car belonging to Jambeinge. He had parked the car at the house of a relative in Windhoek a day after the robbery. Shivute said the offence was premeditated and well calculated. Immediately after the money was stolen it was dished out to several people.
“Interest of society demands that a deterrent sentence should be imposed,” she said.
The judge further said the accused persons are family men who look after their children and other dependents, unfortunately through their reckless conduct they have placed the wellbeing of those they are looking after in jeopardy.
FRED GOEIEMAN