I didn’t have fishing quotas and sold none – ‘Fitty’

"That’s the State's version. They say I did no work. I brought the evidence that I did work for Samherji, for which they paid me.”

These are the words of Fishrot co-accused Tamson ‘Fitty’ Hatuikulipi, who was on the stand for the second day yesterday in his bail application, which is currently being heard in the Windhoek High Court.

The State has not yet had an opportunity for cross-examination, but this is expected to start tomorrow after his main testimony is completed.

The State alleged that Hatuikulipi received bribes from the Samherji group to get their hands on Namibian fish quotas.

"I do not understand how they can say I was bribed, because I am not a fishing rights holder and I did not have any quotas," he testified.

He explained that Samherji had caught quotas on behalf of fishing rights holders. The Icelandic company allegedly paid the rights holders a certain amount and then sold the fish on the international market for large profit.

"Compared to the money they made, what I was paid was almost nothing."

‘A self-confessed criminal’

Hatuikulipi’s legal representative Florian Beukes called whistle-blower and state witness Jóhannes Stefánsson's character and credibility into question during his client’s testimony.

"The court cannot rely on Stefánsson," Hatuikulipi testified.

The applicants alleged that Stefánsson ran his previous business into the ground as a result of an alcohol and drug problem, which he allegedly admitted to Hatuikulipi.

He also testified that he saw Stefánsson smoking marijuana and consuming a lot of alcohol. He, however, admitted that he had never seen Stefánsson use cocaine.

"At parties, he paid for prostitutes to come home with him."

Hatuikulipi was instructed by Beukes to read statements from other people related to Stefánsson's partying and alcohol and drug abuse. Beukes asked Hatuikulipi why Stefánsson would be lying about the Fishrot scandal.

"Johannes asked me to help him get rid of his employer. He wanted me to do his dirty work. I told him I don't do such things. After that, he was mad at me.

"He is a self-confessed criminal," Hatuikulipi testified.

Family

Yesterday, he said money paid between him and his cousin - and now co-accused - James Hatuikulipi can be explained.

Hatuikulipi allegedly paid part of the money he received from Samherji to James for his help in convincing Namibian fishing rights holders to enter into agreements with the Icelandic company so that it could catch their fish quotas.

"We are blood relatives. The transactions between us were for the help he rendered me, loans we entered into between each other and the repayment of those loans.

"We did not keep track of all the loans.”

According to Hatuikulipi, James told him to pay the money over to his various businesses.