B1 City fraud accused loses lawyer
B1 City fraud accused loses lawyer

B1 City fraud accused loses lawyer

NAMPA
Hafeni Nghinamwaami, one the three businesspeople implicated in the fraud and corruption case surrounding the B1 City property development project, is without legal representation after his lawyer Kadhila Amoomo withdrew from the case.

Amoomo parted ways with Nghinamwaami on Tuesday when he made another appearance before High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg during a case management review conference.

The lawyer cited an inability to reach a common understanding on several issues contained in the charge sheet with his client as the reason for his withdrawal.

Liebenberg subsequently allowed Amoomo to withdraw from the case. Nghinamwaami was ordered to apply to the justice ministry's Directorate of Legal Aid for another State-funded defence lawyer to defend him during future court proceedings and when his trial resumes.

The case was thereafter postponed to 21 August to allow Legal Aid to appoint another lawyer for Nghinamwaami.

The three accused in the matter are former Roads Contractor Company (RCC) CEO Kelly Nghixulifwa (58), Nghinamwaami (50), and 49-year-old Anna Ndoroma.

On 17 October 2018, Liebenberg dismissed an application by Nghixulifwa in which the accused wanted the court to issue an order to compel the State to provide him with further particulars and explain in full detail that the RCC was indeed a public body at the time of the alleged offences.

The three accused face eight main charges including corruption, fraud, theft and money-laundering.

These charges stem from the RCC's involvement in the B1 City project opposite the Katutura State Hospital during 2005 and 2006.

The RCC started this joint-venture with /Ae //Gams Engineering.

It is alleged that Nghixulifwa was a shareholder in /Ae //Gams Engineering and Cradle Investments, but apparently concealed his stake in the two companies by having his shares held in Ndoroma's name.

While still RCC CEO, Nghixulifwa allegedly claimed payment from the parastatal and another construction company for the role Cradle Investments supposedly played in the construction of the parastatal's head office.

The RCC board of directors was allegedly also kept in the dark about Nghixulifwa's involvement in the companies.

All three are free on bail of N$60 000 each, and their bail was extended until their next court appearance on 21 August.

State advocate Ezekiel Iipinge is the prosecutor, while defence lawyers Slysken Makando and Silas Kishi-Shakumu are representing Nghixulifwa and Ndoroma, respectively.

NAMPA

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

No comments have been left on this article

Please login to leave a comment

Katima Mulilo: 20° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 37° Eenhana: 22° | 36° Oshakati: 25° | 35° Ruacana: 22° | 36° Tsumeb: 23° | 36° Otjiwarongo: 22° | 35° Omaruru: 23° | 36° Windhoek: 23° | 34° Gobabis: 23° | 35° Henties Bay: 14° | 19° Swakopmund: 14° | 16° Walvis Bay: 13° | 20° Rehoboth: 23° | 35° Mariental: 24° | 38° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 39° Aranos: 28° | 38° Lüderitz: 13° | 25° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 40° Oranjemund: 13° | 21° Luanda: 25° | 26° Gaborone: 22° | 36° Lubumbashi: 17° | 32° Mbabane: 18° | 31° Maseru: 16° | 32° Antananarivo: 17° | 31° Lilongwe: 22° | 33° Maputo: 23° | 31° Windhoek: 23° | 34° Cape Town: 17° | 27° Durban: 20° | 25° Johannesburg: 19° | 31° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 22° | 33° Harare: 21° | 31° #REF! #REF!