State alleges wire payment to fugitive in Shiweda’s murder

The state has alleged that murder accused Abner Mateus communicated with a fugitive suspect before and after the attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, while his co-accused and nephew, Petrus Shikwaya, allegedly transferred money to the same suspect minutes after the attack.

Shiweda was shot and doused with corrosive acid at Ondangwa on 17 October last year.

She died in hospital in February.

The allegations emerged yesterday during Shikwaya’s bail hearing in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court, where Mateus testified as a witness in support of his nephew’s application.

Cross-examining Mateus, public prosecutor Yeukai Kangira says the state’s investigation has established that Mateus spoke twice to the wanted suspect on the morning of the attack.

According to Kangira, Mateus communicated with the suspect at 06h21 and again shortly after 07h23, around the time Shiweda was attacked.

She further alleges that Shikwaya transferred N$4 950 to the suspect just 10 minutes after the prosecutor was attacked.

“The applicant wired N$4 950 to an outstanding suspect 10 minutes after Justine was shot, after the deal was done,” Kangira said.

She told the court that the payment followed communications between Mateus and the wanted suspect.