Eba Kandovazu
DISGRACED former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer Mike Nghipunya reportedly hinted to Louise Fernandez, the CEO of Low-Key Investment, that a company receiving fishing quotas for governmental objectives must understand “that is how business is done in Namibia”, after he requested that Lowkey to pay money into the account of a company he co-owned with his fishrot co-accused Phillipus Mwapopi, Wanakadu Investment.
Fernandez said he ended up parting with cash of close to 10 million dollars without any services provided by Wanakadu Investments.
“By the words he used, he made me understand that that is how business was done in the country,”. Fernandez told Anti Corruption Commission investigators, adding that he figured the money would not be used for governmental objectives as purported.
ACC investigator Andreas Kanyangela told the court today that Lowkey first received a 1500 metric tons quota for freezer hake on 9 December 2016, another 3000 on 11 December 2017 as well as 1000 in February 2019. Another 2000 metric tons of freezer hake quota was received by Low Key in April 2019 and an additional 1000 the same year.
“The quotas allocated to Lowkey were for governmental objectives and my understanding was that it was to create jobs and invest in the economy,” Fernandez said.
Kanyangela said Low-Key received an invoice of N$8 750 000 from Nghipunya, for vessel repairs and food for crew members in January 2017. N$6 015 000 was paid to Wanakadu, the court was told.
A whopping 19 693 750 dollars was paid to Ndjakete investments, a company Nghipunya and Otneel Shuudifony co-own, by Lowkey investments, Kanyangela testified.
Kanyangela also detailed the total amounts fishrot suspects individually benefited in the fishrot corruption scam, as well as their companies.
Former Fisheries Minister Bernard Esau in total received three million-554-thousand-453 dollars in his personal bank account. Another N$1 943 445 was benefited through his business dealings, the court was informed. In total Esau schemed N$5 487 895 through the scam.
Hatuikulipi, in his personal capacity received N$32 463 541. His local businesses earned him a combined N$72 223 531, while Tundavala, an offshore company he owns in the United Arab Emirates reportedly earned him US$4 121 883 (approximately N$61 828 245).
Former Justice Minister is alleged to have earned himself a total N$27 746 623 from Fishrot corruption scam, while Ricardo Gustavo received a total N$22 457 901.
Tamson Hatuikulipi received a total of N$57 642 507. Pius Mwatelula benefited a total amount of N$14 160 110, while Nghipunya received a total N$43 960 394, according to ACC’s Andreas Kanyangela.
Phillipus Mwapopi received a total N$818 420 in his personal bank account while his business interests earned him 5 630 033 dollars. In total, he earned N 6 427 453 from the fishrot network.
Maren de Klerk, the fugitive lawyer received a total N$13 957 857, while Shanghala’s employee and now co-accused Nigel van Wyk received N$1 943 314 in his personal bank account.
Shuudifonya benefited a total N$3 931 669 in his personal bank account, while his business interests earned him N$17 523 686, according to Kanyangela.
The suspects, with the exception of Van Wyk, Esau and Tamson are applying for bail. Gustavo was granted bail in the amount of N$800 000. Judge Shafimana Ueitele is presiding over the matter.
