I am a whistleblower, not a fugitive - De Klerk
Says media focus on him has been \'grossly disproportionate\'
Lawyer Marén de Klerk has hit back at claims portraying him as a fugitive, insisting that he should instead be recognised as a whistleblower who exposed critical details of one of Namibia’s most high-profile corruption scandals.
In response to a Namibian Sun article published last week, de Klerk’s lawyers at PD Theron & Associates described the depiction of him as “on the run” as both false and misleading.
They emphasised that De Klerk was arrested in South Africa in 2023 under a warrant issued at Namibia’s request and fully submitted himself to the court’s jurisdiction. He remained engaged in the legal proceedings until June 2024, when the extradition application was formally withdrawn, his lawyers wrote.
De Klerk maintains that he voluntarily disclosed financial dealings linked to the Fishrot scandal, positioning himself as a whistleblower rather than a fugitive.
“It must be stressed that our client is, in effect, a whistleblower in the so-called Fishrot matter, having voluntarily exposed dealings of immense public interest,” his legal representatives stated.
Background
De Klerk left Namibia in January 2020, shortly after being questioned by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigators over the Fishrot case, which involves the alleged unlawful acquisition and sale of Namibian fishing quotas.
He has since been living in South Africa.
This week, his lawyers accused some media outlets of downplaying his cooperation with authorities and undermining public confidence by framing him as a runaway suspect. “The irony is plain: it is this very form of reckless and biased reporting that erodes public confidence in the media and weakens its credibility as a guardian of truth,” he said.
According to de Klerk’s legal team, media focus on him has been “grossly disproportionate” compared to other suspects in the matter.
While certain Icelandic nationals allegedly central to the scandal have largely avoided sustained scrutiny, De Klerk has been singled out for negative coverage, they stated.
His lawyers argue this imbalance risks fuelling public prejudice and could compromise any future trial in Namibia.
Last week, the ministry of justice confirmed to Namibian Sun that it is actively exhausting all available legal avenues, together with the Office of the Prosecutor General, to secure De Klerk’s return to Namibia to have his day in court.
“The ministry of justice, together with the office of the prosecutor-general, remains fully committed to exhausting all available legal avenues to secure Mr de Klerk’s return to Namibia so that he may answer to the charges in connection with the Fishrot case,” the justice ministry told Namibian Sun last week.
In response to a Namibian Sun article published last week, de Klerk’s lawyers at PD Theron & Associates described the depiction of him as “on the run” as both false and misleading.
They emphasised that De Klerk was arrested in South Africa in 2023 under a warrant issued at Namibia’s request and fully submitted himself to the court’s jurisdiction. He remained engaged in the legal proceedings until June 2024, when the extradition application was formally withdrawn, his lawyers wrote.
De Klerk maintains that he voluntarily disclosed financial dealings linked to the Fishrot scandal, positioning himself as a whistleblower rather than a fugitive.
“It must be stressed that our client is, in effect, a whistleblower in the so-called Fishrot matter, having voluntarily exposed dealings of immense public interest,” his legal representatives stated.
Background
De Klerk left Namibia in January 2020, shortly after being questioned by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigators over the Fishrot case, which involves the alleged unlawful acquisition and sale of Namibian fishing quotas.
He has since been living in South Africa.
This week, his lawyers accused some media outlets of downplaying his cooperation with authorities and undermining public confidence by framing him as a runaway suspect. “The irony is plain: it is this very form of reckless and biased reporting that erodes public confidence in the media and weakens its credibility as a guardian of truth,” he said.
According to de Klerk’s legal team, media focus on him has been “grossly disproportionate” compared to other suspects in the matter.
While certain Icelandic nationals allegedly central to the scandal have largely avoided sustained scrutiny, De Klerk has been singled out for negative coverage, they stated.
His lawyers argue this imbalance risks fuelling public prejudice and could compromise any future trial in Namibia.
Last week, the ministry of justice confirmed to Namibian Sun that it is actively exhausting all available legal avenues, together with the Office of the Prosecutor General, to secure De Klerk’s return to Namibia to have his day in court.
“The ministry of justice, together with the office of the prosecutor-general, remains fully committed to exhausting all available legal avenues to secure Mr de Klerk’s return to Namibia so that he may answer to the charges in connection with the Fishrot case,” the justice ministry told Namibian Sun last week.
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