Windhoek: A former security officer at Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) was denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges relating to the theft of diamonds worth more than N.dollars 300 million in January 2025.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the 45-year-old Joel Angula had previously applied for bail in January 2026. The State opposed the application, citing the seriousness of the charges, the strength of its case, the likelihood of interference with witnesses, the administration of justice, and public interest considerations.

Angula stands accused, alongside four co-accused, of unlawfully entering the Namdia premises in January last year, allegedly holding employees hostage and stealing more than 50,000 carats of diamonds. The suspects are further accused of tying up and fatally shooting the company's Chief Security Officer, Francis Eiseb, in what has been described as an execution-style killing.

One of the alleged accomplices, Max Endjala, reportedly turned the firearm on himself as police officers closed in on them. Another suspect, Sam Shololo, 45, was subsequently arrested.

The accused face multiple charges, including murder read with Section 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act (Act 17 of 1986), robbery read with Section 18 of the same Act, two counts of attempted murder, and unlawful possession of rough and uncut diamonds.

In delivering her ruling, Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo found that granting bail would not be in the interests of justice. The State has alleged that diamonds valued at over N.dollars 4 million were recovered from Angula's residence, an allegation he denies.

During proceedings, Angula maintained that he is not a flight risk and argued that no direct evidence places him at the scene of the crime.