'Fitty' ditches Esau in new bail bid

Fishrot accused Tamson ‘Fitty’ Hatuikulipi — who the state claims played an integral role in the Fishrot scandal — is applying for bail a second time, this time on his own. Hatuikulipi’s earlier bail application was brought alongside that of his father-in-law and co-accused Bernardt Esau, Namibia’s former minister of fisheries and marine resources. It is not yet clear why Hatuikulipi has decided to go solo in his new bail application, although there has been speculation that bringing an application alongside other Fishrot accused who may have played a more integral role in the scandal could reduce the prospects of successfully applying for bail.The only accused in the matter to have been granted bail to date, Ricardo Gustavo, brought his application alone. He was successfully granted bail in December 2021.The state alleges that through Fishrot, well-connected officials, businessmen and politicians collectively looted more than N$300 million through briberies and other unethical dealings. Moneyed life Affidavits filed in court during his first bail attempt in July 2020, showed that Hatuikulipi is a wealthy man who owns properties estimated to be worth N$40 million. Among his property portfolio, properties worth N$16 million are fully paid off, court records showed. He told the court that he owns vehicles to the value of N$12 million.At the time, Hatuikulipi offered his unbonded properties to the state as security for bail. Esau offered to cede his farm and house, valued at N$23 million, to the state as security.Hatuikulipi&#039;s new application for bail, which is based on new facts, was to be heard in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday, but was postponed to today.His legal representative, Richard Metcalfe of Metcalfe & Beukes Attorneys, said the frsh grounds for the bail application will be provided during the court proceedings today. Metcalfe informed the court that his colleague, Florian Beukes, is handling the new application. Beukes could not appear in court yesterday due to illness. He indicated he would be ready to proceed with the case today.Wealthy connectionsHatuikulipi is the son-in-law of Esau, his co-accused and Namibia’s former minister of fisheries and marine resources.Both were arrested on 27 November 2019 and Magistrate Duard Kesslau rejected their first application for bail on 22 July 2020.The duo later appealed against the decision in the Windhoek High Court, but that court found that Kesslau&#039;s decision was correct.Based on the seriousness of the offense, Kesslau argued that the release of Hatuikulipi and Esau would not be in the public interest or in the interest of justice.Only one of the Fishrot accused, Gustavo, has been successful in his bail application.Six of the accused were denied bail earlier this year and applied to the High Court last week for leave to appeal against the decision in the High Court.They will hear on 22 July whether they may proceed with the appeal case. Additional reporting by Toivo Ndjebela.kristien@republikein.com.na

'Fitty' ditches Esau in new bail bid

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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'Fitty' ditches Esau in new bail bid

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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