Esau denies Namgomar links
While acknowledging that he gave the blessing for Namgomar Pesca SA to gain access to Namibia’s rich fishing grounds, former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau said he did so based on recommendations and not of his own accord.
The former lawmaker said this in the Windhoek High Court yesterday during his bail application, while maintaining that officials within the fisheries ministry spearheaded the process and that they should, therefore, answer for it.
“I placed my trust in the permanent secretary and the officials. I nominated the company which they recommended. I must say I did not know the company, nor did I pay attention to it because there are so many companies awarded fishing rights,” he said.
Esau is adamant that he did not feature in the Fishrot corruption scheme through which the country lost millions - which were allegedly diverted into the pockets of a few instead of state coffers.
Public prosecutor Cliff Lutibezi pressed Esau on his involvement while making reference to several documents signed by the former Cabinet minister during his time in office, which paved the way for Fishrot.
Esau said he did not read some of the documents before signing them.
‘My brother was dying’
“There was a time I signed a document without going through it because my brother was terminally ill in hospital,” he said.
The State also probed Esau on why the Angolan agreement was dealt with as an urgent matter, to which Esau responded: “There was enough reserve quotas for this recommendation to assist Angola through Namgomar”.
During his previous bail applications, Esau flatly denied that he was part of the Fishrot syndicate, maintaining that based on evidence available, his name was used by some of his co-accused.
He took offence over claims that he did business with some of the accused persons.
“I feel betrayed. I don't do business with kids, only with my peer group. I have not talked about business with them. Some of them are young and professionals in their own right,” he said during previous appearances.
Shocked
Esau also denied knowing one of his co-accused Ricardo Gustavo. This despite the two having lived on the same street in Windhoek’s Hochland Park.
He added that he was ‘shocked’ to learn that over N$200 million was allegedly looted through Fishrot, adding that it is clear that he was “hoodwinked and blindfolded into signing documents”.
The former lawmaker said this in the Windhoek High Court yesterday during his bail application, while maintaining that officials within the fisheries ministry spearheaded the process and that they should, therefore, answer for it.
“I placed my trust in the permanent secretary and the officials. I nominated the company which they recommended. I must say I did not know the company, nor did I pay attention to it because there are so many companies awarded fishing rights,” he said.
Esau is adamant that he did not feature in the Fishrot corruption scheme through which the country lost millions - which were allegedly diverted into the pockets of a few instead of state coffers.
Public prosecutor Cliff Lutibezi pressed Esau on his involvement while making reference to several documents signed by the former Cabinet minister during his time in office, which paved the way for Fishrot.
Esau said he did not read some of the documents before signing them.
‘My brother was dying’
“There was a time I signed a document without going through it because my brother was terminally ill in hospital,” he said.
The State also probed Esau on why the Angolan agreement was dealt with as an urgent matter, to which Esau responded: “There was enough reserve quotas for this recommendation to assist Angola through Namgomar”.
During his previous bail applications, Esau flatly denied that he was part of the Fishrot syndicate, maintaining that based on evidence available, his name was used by some of his co-accused.
He took offence over claims that he did business with some of the accused persons.
“I feel betrayed. I don't do business with kids, only with my peer group. I have not talked about business with them. Some of them are young and professionals in their own right,” he said during previous appearances.
Shocked
Esau also denied knowing one of his co-accused Ricardo Gustavo. This despite the two having lived on the same street in Windhoek’s Hochland Park.
He added that he was ‘shocked’ to learn that over N$200 million was allegedly looted through Fishrot, adding that it is clear that he was “hoodwinked and blindfolded into signing documents”.
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