Second alleged murder raises questions over bail system

Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of bail risk assessments after a man previously arrested for allegedly murdering his girlfriend in 2024 was released on bail and later implicated in the murder of another woman at Mariental.

Legal practitioner Samuel Shinedima says the justice system must balance the constitutional right to liberty with the public’s right to life and safety, particularly in serious cases involving allegations of murder.

“The justice system must not lose sight of the fact that bail protects the liberty of the accused, but public safety protects the lives of everyone else,” he says.

His comments come after Jackson Arikumbi (32), who was arrested in 2024 for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, was released on N$3 000 bail on 19 October and allegedly murdered Valery Rooi (34) at Mariental on 31 October 2026.

Hardap police head of crime investigations Theodore Kotungondo confirmed the two cases to The Namibian on Friday.

Kotungondo says Arikumbi allegedly fled the scene and left town after the latest incident.

Shinedima says bail was a constitutional safeguard but not an absolute right, adding that public safety should be a central consideration when courts determine bail applications in serious cases.

He says courts should assess the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence, the circumstances of the case, the likelihood of further violent offences and whether bail conditions could realistically mitigate those risks.

“Where a person accused of murder is released on bail and is subsequently implicated in another murder, the matter raises profound concerns about the effectiveness of risk assessment and the protection afforded to the public,” he says.

However, he cautions that the subsequent allegation did not, in itself, establish that the initial bail decision was wrong.

The latest killing has also left Mariental urban constituency councillor Iswarin Rooi mourning her cousin, while recalling another family’s demand for justice following a woman’s murder in 2024.

Rooi says she remembers standing with the Velary’s family in 2024 while they demanded justice for their loved one.

“In 2024, as I already said, I stood with Velary’s family, demanding justice. And in 2026, I’m mourning my own cousin. Two different families, two devastating tragedies, and one community that continues to ask for answers,” she says.

She calls for stronger cooperation between the police, prosecutors, courts, social workers and community structures, as well as timely investigations and proper risk assessments during bail proceedings.

“We need effective monitoring of bail conditions and better protection for people who report threats and violence,” she said.

Rooi says domestic violence and threats against women should not be treated as private family matters, but as issues that concern the entire community.

“After every murder, we need practical intervention,” she says.

The Office of the Hardap governor, Riaan McNab, has also called for bail applications to be considered in accordance with the law while taking into account the safety of victims, their families and the wider community.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the office condemned what it described as brutal acts of violence and senseless killings targeting women and children.

“We make an appeal to law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to exercise their mandates with urgency and firmness in ensuring that perpetrators of GBV are brought to justice and victims are protected,” the statement reads.

The office says it would announce a date for a regional united prayer day aimed at bringing communities together to pray for healing, peace and unity.