The request to Chief Justice Peter Shivuta to allow the self-proclaimed “treasurer” of those involved in the Fishrot corruption case, lawyer Maren de Klerk, to testify via video link was made by Fishcor, the Namibian National Fisheries Corporation, March 9. , according to the newspaper New Era LIVE.
The state-owned company decided to petition Shivuta after the High Court denied it permission to appeal last year’s decision to the Supreme Court in January.
In October 2022, Judge Orben Sibeya rejected Fishcor’s motion for de Klerk to testify via video link in a case in which the company wants to annul several fishing agreements made by some key figures in the criminal case of Ongoing million-dollar mega-bribe from Fishrot.
In documents filed with the High Court, the company alleged that various agreements entered into by then-Fishcor Chairman James Hatuikulipi, former Fisheries Minister Benhard Esau, former Fishcor CEO Mike Ngipunya and Adrian Lowe, who represented the intermediary companies Africa Selection Fishing Namibia (ASF). and Seaflower Pelagic Processing, were not done in good faith, but fraudulently and through bribery.
Therefore, de Klerk’s testimony is central to the ongoing Fishrot trial.
In her petition, Fishcor chairwoman Milka Mungunda said that while criminal proceedings are ongoing, Fishcor must be acquitted. She explained that de Klerk’s testimony is critical to what Fishcor wants to achieve: get rid of questionable contracts.
“Mr. de Klerk is the only witness who can testify directly about the corruption scheme and the meeting in the Western Cape (South Africa) on December 30, 2016, which was attended by De Klerk himself, Saki Shangala, James Hatuikulipi and Adrian Low. and what action plans were discussed and the corruption scheme was discussed in detail”Mungunda wrote.
She said the only way to get de Klerk’s testimony was through a video link, as his whereabouts were unknown. The Namibian police, with the help of Interpol, were unable to find him, despite having an arrest warrant for him. Therefore, in the interest of the public and the administration of justice, the court should allow de Klerk to testify via video link, the Fishcor president said.
According to de Klerk’s sworn testimony, he admits that he “unknowingly” committed various crimes related to the Fishrot case. The corruption scheme involved himself, the Attorney General of Shingal, Lowe, Hatuikulipi and Lowe’s financial adviser Johannes Breed.
He also revealed that this entire group, except for Breed, met on December 30, 2016 to discuss the company that “it can bring you a lot of money”according to the Shingala Attorney General.
“He (Shanghala) explained that by being able to verify all government agreements, he was able to approve the proposed joint venture between Fishcor and the entity to be established in Namibia.” de Klerk said. This, he says, led to the creation of Seaflower.
According to de Klerk, Xiangala told the group that the fishing laws would be changed to create a fish processing plant on the coast.
Furthermore, these amendments will open the door for a joint venture between Fishcor and local and Angolan investors in the fishing sector. Shingala reportedly presented Lowe as one of the major players in the sector, and the latter was already in talks with Fisheries Minister Isau. Low, as a result of the amendments, will take precedence over any and all commercial fishing opportunities.
“Shangala explained to me that she had actually received an ‘instruction’ from Minister Isau to secure agreements with Ngipunya.”de Klerk said.
De Klerk claims he was directly involved in the scheme, advising on and contributing to various deals now being investigated by Fishcor.
He said other lawyers involved in drafting the agreements were lawyers for Fishcor Ellis Shilengunwa Inc and, in particular, Peter Jones.
The lawyer pointed out that this whole scheme would not have been possible without the help provided by the government of Shingal and Isau, of Fishcor – Hatuikulipi and Ngipunyi, as well as Low and Breed in ASF and Seaflower, respectively.
The Fishrot case will be heard in court on March 30.
Recall that the criminal case for corruption and fraud of high-ranking Namibian officials and politicians, who in exchange for bribes provided the large Icelandic fishing company Samherji with unlimited access to fishing quotas, was named Fishrot because that is what WikiLeaks in 2019 called a folder with files which contain details of this corruption scheme and are made available to the public.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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