Eba Kandovazu
REVELATIONS in the fishrot corruption saga continues to unfold with new information brought to fore on each day of court hearing.
The latest information comes from investigations including their dues to the treasury.
The Ministry of Finance inland revenue, shows outstanding income taxes by the fishrot accused and the various companies they own.
Anti corruption commission Iivestigator Andreas Kanyangela testified today that an income tax notice belonging to James Hatuikulipi indicated that he owed the finance ministry an amount of N$403 624 in 2014, N$4 951 266 in 2015, N$7 291 957 in 2016, N$4 236 000 and N$4 591 174 in 2018, totaling N$ 21 473 921.
Kanyangela also revealed that Former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala was indebted to the finance ministry in an amount of N$2 101 223, between the period of 2014 to 2019.
A company of the former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer Mike Nghipunya and another co-accused Otneel Shuudifonya, Wanyemba Investments Trust is said to owe the finance ministry N$12 531 294 for the period of 2018 to 2020.
Tuafika logistics, a company owned by Pius Mwatelulo, owes the finance ministry N$2 702 489, for the period of 2014 to 2018, Kanyagela told the court.
Shuudifonya owes the treasury N$674 234 in taxes.
The suspects are seeking bail before Judge Shafimana Ueitele.
Tomorrow morning, Hatuikulipi is expected to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s court on obstruction of justice charges he faces, pertaining to an alleged N$100 000 he had offered to investigating officers to obtain his personal banking cards and those belonging to his co-accused and cousin Mwatelulo.
He is charged alongside Sakaria Kuutondokwa, a police reservist. One Jason Iyambo was arrested in the same matter. He has since admitted guilt and was subsequently sentenced to nine months in prison.
Hatuikulipi and Kuutondokwa are accused of corruptly giving gratification as an inducement, bribery or alternatively improperly influencing an authorised officer and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The matter is however anticipated to be put on hold pending the outcome of the bail application currently in the High Court. State Advocate Cliff Lutibezi said that the bail application is to be prioritized because of it’s urgent nature.
This Thursday, all the suspects, with the inclusion of Former Fisheries minister Bernard Esau, his son in law, Tamson Hatuikulipi and Ricardo Gustavo are expected to appear in the Windhoek High Court before a separate judge, for the main case.
