fishrot – Windhoek Observer

28 Nov

Churches Alliance calls for restorative justice for Fishrot affected communities

ObserverObserver MoneyAlliance of Christian Churches in Namibia, fishrot

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Alliance of Christian Churches in Namibia calls for restorative justice, especially to those communities that have been directly affected and suffered from the Fishrot ordeal. Reverend Dolly Nengushe at the first Annual Economic Summit held in Swakopmund by the Alliance, under the theme “promoting economic resilience and sustainability post Covid-19 pandemic”, says society has become number one enemy of itself with a country with more than half of the majority of the population of about 2.7 million living in abject poverty as wealthy as the country is with natural resources. She says comments from the Fishrot bail…

26 Nov

Fishrot lawyer warns against international witnesses not appearing . . . Fears client may face longer incarceration

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, Johannes Steffanson, Ricardo Gustavo

Eba Kandovazu THE lawyer representing Fishrot suspect, Ricardo Gustavo, who is applying for bail for N$ 250 000, says the High Court has no power to compel whistleblower Johannes Steffanson to travel to Namibia and testify in the matter. Trevor Brockerhoff, in his closing remarks for the bail application indicates that the trial could drag on for years, to the prejudice of his client if he continues to be in jail. He explains that there is no certainty that witnesses from Dubai, Iceland and Angola would stick to their deal with the State to testify. He also points out that…

18 Nov

Loss of 18000 fishing jobs not Fishrot’s fault – Gustavo

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, Ricardo Gustavo

Eba Kandovazu RICARDO Gustavo, one of the suspects in Namibia's biggest fishing corruption scandal is refuting allegations that the scandal resulted in 18000 job losses in the fishing industry, saying that the job losses were a result of an illegal strike the workers undertook. Gustavo, today during his bail application, said in actual fact, he and his associates created job opportunities in addition to services at the Walvis Bay port, which he says has benefited Namibians. According to him, vessels were deployed. He is accused of owning a company, Namgomar Pesca Namibia, a subsidiary of an Angolan company, Namgomar Pesca…

17 Nov

Fishrot suspect fears children may drop out of Windhoek Gymnasium Private School

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, Ricardo Gustavo, Windhoek Gymnasium Private School

Eba Kandovazu THE suspect at the centre of the allegations that Fishrot suspects benefited with millions from fishing quotas allocated to an Angolan company the State alleges he is a shareholder of, says his continued incarceration could see his children dropping out of the Windhoek Gymnasium Private School. Ricardo Gustavo (44), during his bail application today indicates that he is a father of five children, who currently depend on family members and his friends who ‘believe in his innocence’. He also testifies that his elderly parents also depended on him before his arrest. Gustavo is accused by the State of…

12 Nov

Fishrot charges sound serious but the case is not strong-Shuudifonya

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, Otniel Shuudifonya

Eba Kandovazu Fishrot suspect Otniel Shuudifonya (35), this afternoon told the court that although the racketeering, conspiracy, fraud, theft and money laundering charges he faces “sound” serious”, the State does not have a strong case against him. Shuudifonya remarks during cross examination by State advocate, Cliff Lutibezi, who put the charges to the suspect. Shuudifonya is accused of receiving N$10.3 million from Fishcor. The money, according to his statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was approved by his friend, former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mike Nghipunya, and was meant for a fish feed project. “I do not know if…

11 Nov

Shuudifonya offers bail for N$50K, offered loan by Hatuikulipi for business

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, Otniel Shuudifonya

Eba Kandovazu ONE of the men implicated in the Fishrot scandal, Otniel Shuudifonya, aged 35 years, has offered N$ 50 000 for bail, with the assistance of his friends. Shuudifonya, who hails from Ohangwena region, says he has known James Hatuikulipi since 2005, and that the two are from the same region, Ohangwena. He tells the court that Hatuikulipi granted him a loan via his company Otuafika logistics cc in 2017 as startup capital for his company, Ndjako Investments, one of the companies accused of benefiting in the Fishrot scandal. According to Shuudifonya, he did not not know where the…

07 Oct

High court joins Fishrot cases

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, Windhoek High Court

Eba Kandovazu THE state has been granted permission by the Windhoek High Court to have the two Fishrot cases, namely the Namgomar and Fishcor, joined together as one to avoid a repetition of evidences. Judge Christie Liebenberg today ruled that the application is not a consolidation of the indictments, but that it is just the joining of accused persons with separate offenses in terms of section 156 of the Criminal Procedure Act. State Advocate Ed Marondedze made the application, which was challenged by all the Fishrot suspects, except former Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Bernard Esau, and his son-in- law,…

19 Jun

Did van der Merwe assist de Klerk?

ObserverObserver MoneyACC, Erna van der Merwe, fishrot, Marén de Klerk, Prosecutor General

Staff Reporter Speculation that Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director General, Erna van der Merwe, assisted fugitive lawyer Maren de Klerk to flee refuses to subside as the Prosecutor General’s Office eagerly awaits his extradition from South Africa. De Klerk, who is accused of being the pay master in the Fishrot case, fled the country a few days after a meeting van der Merwe and other investigators at the ACC Head Office. As PG’s Office is working round the clock to bring de Klerk back to Namibia, prosecution officials are blaming van der Merwe for giving de Klerk preferential treatment, which…

21 May

State prosecution yet to finalise Fishrot witnesses

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, State

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that the State prosecution is yet to finalise its list of witnesses to be used in the upcoming Fishrot trial. The development was revealed in the High Court on Thursday when the defence raised concern over continued delays cropping up with the prosecution’s witness list. The hearing of the case at the High Court has now been scheduled for 12 July, while the pre-trial has been postponed until 17 June to allow the suspects’ legal defence to study the affidavit provided to them by the Office of the Prosecutor General, and also to allow a…

23 Apr

Fishrot cases adjourned

ObserverObserver MoneyBernard Esau, Fishcor, fishrot, James Hatuikulipi, Mike Nghipunya, Otneel Shuudifonya, Philipus Mwapopi, Pius Mwatelulo, Sacky Shangala, Tamson Hatuikulip

Andrew Kathindi Judge Christie Liebenberg has ordered the postponement of the Fishrot corruption Nengomar and Fishcor cases to the 20th of May, while the state prosecution files for a joinder application of the two cases. The Fishrot accused, which included former Fisheries Minister, Bernard Esau, former Justice Minister,Sacky Shangala, former Fishcor Chariman, James Hatuikulipi, former Fishcor CEO, Mike Nghipunya, Tamson Hatuikulip, Pius Mwatelulo, Otneel Shuudifonya, Philipus Mwapopi, will be remanded in custody. This comes as, during the first pre-trial session of the cases’ appearance at the High Court, Judge Liebenberg dismissed an application in which the State Prosecutor, Ed Marondedze,…