'Only God can judge him'

Preacher Babi stands accused of illegally being in possession of two rhino horns, a firearm and ammunition.
Staff Reporter
FRANCOISE STEYNBERG

WINDHOEK

Self-professed prophet of House of Joy Ministries, Pastor Jackson Babi (30), and his co-accused Friza Dumeni spent the weekend behind bars.

Accused of illegally being in possession of two rhino horns, a firearm and ammunition – found in the pastor's Kleine Kuppe home last week – the duo's bail application, which was set to take place in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Friday, was postponed to today.

Despite a backlog of cases due to the coronavirus pandemic, Babi and Dumeni's legal representative Kadhila Amoomo tried everything in his power to get Magistrate Jo-Rina Jagger to schedule the suspects' bail application as soon as possible.

Prosecutor Rowan van Wyk said he would strongly oppose bail.



Flock of sheep

Outside, the pastor's followers, who were not allowed inside the courtroom due to coronavirus regulations, watched their beloved prophet's first court appearance through a window.

Some women cried.

“Even if he's found guilty in court, only God can judge him,” a female congregation member told Namibian Sun's sister publication, Republikein. Babi was dressed neatly in a grey suit, black shirt and expensive black shoes, but hid from the media's cameras behind his mask.

Next to him, Dumeni looked untidy in black sweatpants, a maroon sweatshirt and sandals with socks.



Undercover operation

The two were arrested last Wednesday and are part of eight suspects related to the case.

Two of the eight suspects are allegedly a VIP police officer and a former member of the Namibian Defence Force. The case stems from two rhino carcasses which were found on a farm in the Gobabis area in the Omaheke Region last Tuesday.





The same day, four suspects were arrested at Otjiwarongo after allegedly trying to sell two rhino horns to an undercover police officer.

These four accused, who may not be named, appeared in camera in regional court at the town last Thursday.



Daniel in the lion's den

The case is in an early and sensitive stage and further arrests could follow, ministry of environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said.

Two other suspects were meant to appear in the Gobabis Magistrate's Court on Friday, but according to the head of the Blue Rhino task team, commissioner Barry de Klerk, they did not.

On House of Joy Ministries' Facebook page, Babi is described as Daniel in the lion's den.

“Keep praying for our father and the church during these trying times. Refrain from listening to unconfirmed sources,” a post read.



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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 207.29/OZ UP +0.76% | Copper US$ 3.97/lb DOWN -0.0042 | Zinc US$ 2 447.40/T DOWN -0.37% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 86.98/BBP UP +0.68% | Platinum US$ 905.24/OZ UP +1.16% Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 37° Rundu: 17° | 33° Eenhana: 18° | 33° Oshakati: 20° | 31° Ruacana: 19° | 33° Tsumeb: 17° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 28° Omaruru: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 19° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:54, High tide: 04:57, Low Tide: 22:58, High tide: 17:16 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 29km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:55, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:14 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 33km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:54, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:13 Rehoboth: 18° | 29° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 21° | 34° Aranos: 21° | 31° Lüderitz: 15° | 29° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 34° Oranjemund: 15° | 21° Luanda: 27° | 30° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 24° Mbabane: 15° | 23° Maseru: 12° | 28° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 29° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 17° | 23° Durban: 21° | 25° Johannesburg: 18° | 28° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 30° Harare: 15° | 31° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.95 | EUR to NAD 20.51 | CNY to NAD 2.63 | USD to NAD 18.99 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.8 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.27 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.99 | USD to ZMW 24.77 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 73909.5 Up +0.41% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1516.02 Down -0.13% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12981.98 Up +0.34% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 28224.37 Down -2.87% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - 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