PG decision awaited in croc hide case

PG decision awaited in croc hide case

The trial of a Chinese national facing charges of dealing in or possessing a product of a protected game species, was remanded to 28 October pending the decision of the prosecutor-general.
Jianwei Zheng last week pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court. Zheng was found in possession of crocodile hides and he told the court that he understands the charge levelled against him, and explained that he bought the hides as a tourist product.
“The seller did not give me a receipt thus I do not think that I am guilty of this offence,” he said.
Magistrate Alweendo Sebby Venatius entered a plea of not guilty and stopped the proceedings pending the decision of the prosecutor-general.
Attorney Kadhila Amoomo, defending Zheng, told the court that the plea is in accordance with his instructions.
“My client will not give a substantive explanation in terms of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act and we will also provide names of the witnesses to the state later,” Amoomo said.
He informed the court that his client will need the service of a Chinese interpreter because Zheng speaks Mandarin only.
Magistrate Venatius last week refused to grant the accused bail saying it would not be in the interest of administration of justice to release him.
In his ruling, Venatius dismissed Zheng’s plea for bail after Zheng said that he needed to prepare traditional food and aid in the spiritual healing of his cousin.
“This is not an exceptional circumstance for the accused to be granted bail. His cousin is not a baby, otherwise he would not have left China to come to Namibia where he would be without family to support and cook for him. That reason does not hold water,” Venatius argued.
The court also heard that Zheng’s visa is about to expire.
“The applicant might escape due to the easily available transport to all the corners of Namibia and our security is fragile at the borders which are not properly manned. For these reasons the bail is refused,” Venatius ruled.