LAST week was a black week for a Swakopmund resident and his wife.
After being released on bail of N$3 000 on Wednesday on drug-related charges, Jaco Olivier (30) was behind bars the very next day. This time, he and his wife, Janine Olivier (26), were nabbed together in connection with alleged money laundering.
The amount of money allegedly involved currently stands at close to N$200 000 and is expected to increase.
On Friday, the Olivier couple from the Tamariskia residential area in the holiday town made a brief appearance before Magistrate Bernhardt Tjatjara on a charge relating to The Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
On the charge sheet, it is alleged that between August 4 2010 and June 16 2011, the accused paid money to Kinghorn and Associates for two properties forms that comes from “unlawful activities, namely the proceeds of drug dealings”.
Furthermore, between April 19 2011 and April 26 2011, the accused equally used alleged drug-dealing profits to pay for a Toyota Yaris.
Public Prosecutor Garth Joseph informed the magistrate that this is a “highly sensitive case” and that the State opposes the release of Jaco Olivier on bail as the Police investigations have not been finalised and the State witnesses are family members of the accused. Should Jaco Olivier be granted bail, the investigations would be jeopardised, Joseph charged.
Jaco Olivier's parents – Abraham and Elizabeth Olivier – and his brother, Ricardo Olivier, have been listed as State witnesses, the prosecutor said.
Should Jaco Olivier want bail, he would need to lodge a formal bail application.
Janine Olivier apparently suffers from a stomach ulcer and as the conditions in the holding cells cannot accommodate a special diet for her, Joseph said she may be granted bail in the amount of N$9 000 but with stringent bail conditions.
Not only must she report at the Swakopmund Police Station twice a week – Mondays and Fridays – but she may also have no contact with her parents-in-law or her brother-in-law.
Furthermore, Janine Olivier was also ordered not to access her or her husband’s bank accounts.
While the case is pending, she may also not leave the Erongo Region. By Friday afternoon, she had not yet paid the bail amount.
Magistrate Tjatjara postponed the case until Thursday, July 28, for Jaco Olivier’s formal bail application.
On Wednesday last week, he was granted bail of N$3 000.
His case for dealing in dependence producing substances was postponed until September 1 this year pending an analysis report from the laboratory.
Christo van Rensburg acts on behalf of the Oliviers.