Suspected ivory dealers denied bail

Two men were denied bail in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court today after they were allegedly caught trying to sell two elephant tusks to undercover policemen. The value of the tusks still has not been determined. The two men, Dirk Vermeulen (51) and Edgar Clark (41), were charged with being in possession of a controlled wildlife product and trading in controlled wildlife products. The charge was based on the contravention of section 4 (1) (a) and (b) of the controlled wildlife products and trade act 9 of 2008 and amended act 6 of 2017. Clark and Vermeulen were arrested on Saturday around 16:00 during a sting operation at the Gracemere Flats in the Fairways area of Walvis Bay. They made a brief appearance Monday morning at the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court, where magistrate John Sindano remanded the two to custody. State prosecutor Tuihaleni Hilikuete opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offence. “A charge like this carries a fine of N$200 000 or 20 years imprisonment.” The two solicited the services of a legal representative from Eugene Thomas practitioners. The case was postponed to 19 September for further investigations as well as for the accused to prepare for a formal bail application.

Leandrea Louw