ERNST Josef Lichtenstrassen (51) appeared in the Karibib Magistrate's Court on Friday and yesterday on two separate charges under the Namibian Arms and Ammunitions Act.

Lichtenstrassen remains in police custody and was not granted bail. Both cases, apparently set to be combined, were postponed to March 27.

Last weekend the police discovered a cache of alleged illegal weapons at the farm 'Tsaobis' near Karibib. The firearms were buried near the farmhouse. The police found two pistols, one semi-automatic rifle and nine hunting rifles.

Lichtenstrassen, who is a lecturer at the Tsumeb campus of the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) and lives in Tsumeb, was not at the farm at the time of the discovery.

A search warrant was issued for his home at Tsumeb. There the police discovered an explosive device (a "type of hand grenade") and ammunition of various calibres in Lichtenstrassen's vehicle, it is alleged. He was arrested on two separate charges: one of being in possession of illegal and unlicensed firearms; and the other of being in possession of explosives and unauthorised ammunition.