Werner Menges
25 August 2008
A Windhoek-based chemist had to fork out N$75 000 last week to be released on bail after spending a night in Police custody on a charge of fraud, alternatively theft.
The Commercial Crime Unit of the Namibian Police arrested chemist Chaardi Birgitta Klein (48) on Tuesday last week in connection with the alleged embezzlement or theft of more than N$685 000 from a pharmaceutical company in which she and a group of mostly other medical professionals are in a business partnership.
Klein made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on a charge of fraud, alternatively theft, on Wednesday morning.
After Public Prosecutor Linus Samaria had told Magistrate Elsie Schickerling that the State was opposing the granting of bail to Klein, as there were fears that Klein might interfere with the Police's investigation of her case, the court ordered that she would have to remain in custody until her case returns to court on October 15.
Shortly before the close of the court for the day, though, Klein and her lawyer, Bradley Basson, were back before Magistrate Schickerling.
With that court appearance, Public Prosecutor Ingrid Husselmann told the Magistrate that the State agreed that Klein could be granted bail of N$75 000, with a set of conditions attached.
Klein paid the bail later on Wednesday evening at the Windhoek Police Station.
The charge against Klein is based on an allegation that she had paid a Government cheque for some N$685 308 that was due to CareMed Pharmaceuticals into her own bank account instead of the company's business account, and that she then split the money and paid it into various other accounts between May and June this year.
As part of her bail conditions Klein was ordered not to visit the premises of CareMed in Windhoek's Prosperita area, and she has also been prohibited from visiting the Central Medical Stores in Voigt Street.
She further had to surrender her passport to the Police officer investigating her case, and is not allowed to leave the Windhoek district without permission from the investigating officer.
She was ordered not to interfere with the Police investigation in any manner, and has to report at the Windhoek Police Station each Monday and Friday afternoon.
Klein has to appear in court again on October 15.
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