Martin Endjala
The Anti-Corruption Commission has confirmed the arrest of two government employees and one local businessman in court for alleged corruption. The suspects, two of them employees at the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture were arrested last Wednesday.
The trio is accused of conducting a string of corrupt activities dating back to 2018. The MoEAC employees are the 53-year-old Cornelius Willemse, a Stock Control Officer, the 54-year-old Veronica Goagoses, a Control Administrative Officer, and the 56-year-old, Desmond Kays a businessman. The Anti- graft watchdog said the suspects corruptly connived to defraud the Ministry of nearly N$3 million that was paid to SSIT Trading Enterprises CC. The closed corporation belongs to Kays.
According to the ACC report, SSIT Trading Enterprises CC was awarded two tenders to supply and deliver photocopy machines to the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) for the amount of N$451,080 in March 2018 and another to the MoEAC head office for N$1,145,412 in May 2018.
Purchase orders were issued to SSIT company and contracts were signed between SSIT and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture. Both government employees are accused of wrongfully, unlawfully, directly or indirectly and corruptly using their office or position to obtain gratification for their own benefit or that of another person.
It is alleged that Goagoses approved and processed a once-off payment in the amounts of N$451,080.00 and N$1,145,412 in respect of the two tenders after Willemse on 1 March and 22 May 2018 certified the purchase orders that the photocopy machines were correctly delivered and received by the ministry, although not a single photocopier machine had been delivered.
The two violated the terms of the two contracts, which mandated that the rental of the photocopying machine be paid in 36 months’ equal monthly instalments of N$51,655,87 and N$12,099.68, respectively, for the duration of the contracts.
Additionally, it was found that even after collecting the fraudulent once-off payments, Kays continued to bill the Ministry for a monthly rental payment on both tenders.
It is further alleged that Goagoses corruptly solicited, accepted, or agreed to accept gratification from Kays between the dates of 1 March and 30 May 2018, namely, by asking for numerous favours in cash and fuel for her benefit or that of another person as an inducement or reward for providing assistance or using influence, or having previously provided assistance or used influence in payment of the price, consideration, or other money.
Both Willemse and Goagoses are charged with contravening section 43 (1) read with sections 32, 43 (2), 46,49, and 51 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 (Act No.8 of 2003).
Willemse is also charged with contravening section 43 (3) Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 while, Kays is charged with fraud and for contravening sections 42 (1) (b) read with sections 32, 46,49 and 51 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003: Bribery for assisting with contracts (giving gratification for assistance or influence in the payment of money in terms of a contract).
The trio appeared in the Katutura Regional Court on 22 June 2023 and all were granted bail. Goagoses and Kays each were granted a bail amount of N$50 000 and Willemse was granted bail of N$25 000.
Their case has been transferred to the Windhoek Regional CourFollowing these developments, the Commission urged public servants to put the national interests above their interests, instead of engaging in corrupt behaviour.
It further stated that individuals must stop and report corrupt persons to law enforcement agencies and those appointed or employed in positions of trust must commit to performing their duties diligently and ethically and uphold a high level of integrity at all times or they will face the law.
