Hunt on for fugitive Fishrot lawyer
The ACC are looking for Maren de Klerk, a lawyer who fled to South Africa after being questioned in connection with the Fishrot bribery scandal.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says the hunt is on for local lawyer Maren de Klerk, who left the country and never returned to answer for his role, if any, in the Fishrot bribery syndicate.
The ACC has further denied assertions that it adopted a racial bias towards some suspects involved in the Fishrot scandal, especially blacks.
De Klerk had been questioned by the ACC and travelled to South Africa afterwards, but has yet to return to Namibia.
Speaking to Namibian Sun briefly, ACC director-general Paulus Noa said they are looking for De Klerk to hold him to account for his perceived involvement in the scandal.
“We want De Klerk, so that we can deal with him like others,” Noa said.
It is alleged that monies from the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) were syphoned through the trust account of De Klerk's firm, De Klerk, Horn and Coetzee Inc. He is alleged to have syphoned N$50 million in illicit financial flows through the trust account.
Namibian Sun last week asked the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Hawks whether they had received a request to look for De Klerk.
“We have not received a formal request from authorities,” SAPS spokesperson Brenda Muridili said.
Noa said they were “seized with the matter”, when questioned why De Klerk had not been apprehended yet.
Last week, the ACC issued South African lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi with a summons to explain why he had been paid N$50 000 by Fishcor in 2018.
The ACC has indicated it would be questioning payments made by the company, including obtaining a full statement under oath from secretary to Cabinet, George Simataa, who must explain how Fishcor was allowed to make payments related to the 2018 national land conference.
The scandal has led to the resignations of former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau, former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala and Investec CEO James Hatuikulipi.
Also implicated in the scandal are suspended Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya, Esau's son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo, who all face charges related to contravening sections of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
OGONE TLHAGE
The ACC has further denied assertions that it adopted a racial bias towards some suspects involved in the Fishrot scandal, especially blacks.
De Klerk had been questioned by the ACC and travelled to South Africa afterwards, but has yet to return to Namibia.
Speaking to Namibian Sun briefly, ACC director-general Paulus Noa said they are looking for De Klerk to hold him to account for his perceived involvement in the scandal.
“We want De Klerk, so that we can deal with him like others,” Noa said.
It is alleged that monies from the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) were syphoned through the trust account of De Klerk's firm, De Klerk, Horn and Coetzee Inc. He is alleged to have syphoned N$50 million in illicit financial flows through the trust account.
Namibian Sun last week asked the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Hawks whether they had received a request to look for De Klerk.
“We have not received a formal request from authorities,” SAPS spokesperson Brenda Muridili said.
Noa said they were “seized with the matter”, when questioned why De Klerk had not been apprehended yet.
Last week, the ACC issued South African lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi with a summons to explain why he had been paid N$50 000 by Fishcor in 2018.
The ACC has indicated it would be questioning payments made by the company, including obtaining a full statement under oath from secretary to Cabinet, George Simataa, who must explain how Fishcor was allowed to make payments related to the 2018 national land conference.
The scandal has led to the resignations of former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau, former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala and Investec CEO James Hatuikulipi.
Also implicated in the scandal are suspended Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya, Esau's son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo, who all face charges related to contravening sections of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
OGONE TLHAGE
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