Eba Kandovazu
DISGRACED Former Minister of Justice Sacky Shanghala requested for information and brochures about Icelandic fishing company Samherji from fishrot star witness Johannes Steffanson, for former fisheries minister Bernard Esau to brief then President Nghifikepunye Pohamba about the Memorandum of Understanding that Esau had signed with Angola, emails presented in court show.
Andreas Kanyangela, the Chief Investigating Officer from the Anti-Corruption Commission today testified that Shanghala, who was the Chairperson of the Law Reform and Development Commission in 2013 wrote an email dated 23 December 2013 to Steffanson, urgently requesting for “a small profile” of Samherji, in case Pohamba asks about Samherji.
“I need your assistance in an urgent matter. The minister needs brief the president on the MoU. Who is samherji?,” part of the emails were read in court.
Kanyangela is testifying in the bail application of fishrot suspects Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, Former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer Mike Nghipunya, Phillipus Mwapopi, Otneel Shuudifonya and Pius Mwatelulo.
Kanyangela also revealed that a trip to Angola was made in 2015. Kanyangela testified on the meeting minutes, which he says was titled “Angola visit 15 to 22 January 2015”. According to him, Shanghala, former Fisheries minister of Angola Victoria de Barros, one Antonio Dos santos representing Namgomar Angola, James Hatuikulipi, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Ricardo Gustavo, all representing Namgomar in Namibia were also present at the meeting, alongside Johannes Steffanson and another individual from Samherji.
Information revealed was that Shanghala at the meeting spoke on behalf of Namgomar. Sacky spoke on behalf of Namgomar in,a presentation made in English, Kanyangela said.
Another meeting was reportedly made to brief the minister, which Consisted of De Barros, her son, Joao, Dosantos, Steffanson, Tamson and another Samherji representative. Kanyangela testified that Pictures of the meetings were provided by steffanson when he gave his statement. The meeting minutes have since been submitted into as exhibits.
The bail application has since been postponed to tomorrow morning for Kanyangela to confirm the Source of documents in court.
