Senior Swakop citizen bailed in reptile case

An elderly Swakopmund resident accused of illegally keeping a monitor lizard and a tortoise was granted bail of N$15 000 on Monday after the State dropped its opposition to his release.

Jürgen Michael Riegel (68), a German national with permanent residency in Namibia, appeared before Swakopmund magistrate Nelao Brown for his formal bail application.

The matter did not proceed as planned after prosecutor Anita Likius told the court the State would not object to the accused being granted bail.

Riegel's bail conditions include reporting to the Swakopmund Police Station every Friday during working hours, surrendering his travel documents and not leaving the country without official permission.

The case was postponed to 26 November for plea and trial.

Riegel is charged with keeping wildlife species without a permit and for the “inability to give a satisfactory account of possession”.

Police found a monitor lizard in a wardrobe at his home and a leopard tortoise in his yard.

The animals were confiscated and are being kept in a “safe place”, police said.

- Adam Hartman