Court sets Jacobs’ corruption sentencing hearing for February
Nikanor NangoloWindhoek
Sentencing in the case of former //Kharas chief regional officer and current chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Salmaan Jacobs has been postponed to February 2026 after defence lawyers indicated they intend to pursue a review before the Supreme Court.Last month, after more than a decade of legal wrangling, Jacobs was found guilty of corruption by the High Court, overturning his earlier acquittal in the Keetmanshoop Regional Court.
The High Court then ordered Jacobs to report himself to the Keetmanshoop Regional Court on 21 November for sentencing.
Jacobs appeared before magistrate Frans Frederick Anderson at the regional court.
Public prosecutor Basson Lilungwe told the court that the matter had been referred to the regional court specifically for sentencing and submitted a copy of the High Court judgment for the record. He also confirmed that the defence had formally notified the State of its intention to seek a review and was not yet ready to argue the sentence.
“The review application was only served on our office yesterday. We will oppose such application,” Lilungwe said, proposing agreed dates for written submissions.
Both parties agreed that the defence would file written submissions on the sentence by 19 January 2026, with the State responding by 26 January. Oral submissions before sentencing are scheduled to be heard on 2 February 2026.
Defence attorney Boris Isaacks confirmed that an application to stay the proceedings had been lodged on 21 November with the Supreme Court, and copies were served on the Keetmanshoop clerk of court, the prosecutor-general’s office and the High Court.
“In the event the Supreme Court has not pronounced itself, the defence intends to bring an application to stay the proceedings in this court,” Isaacks said.
Jacobs’ warning to appear was extended, with the court cautioning that a warrant of arrest may be issued should he fail to attend.
Acquittal overturned
The High Court ruling, delivered by acting judge Marelize du Plessis with judge Naomi Shivute concurring, marked a significant victory for the Office of the Prosecutor-General, which successfully appealed the 2014 acquittal.
The court found that Jacobs, a former deputy director in the international relations ministry, abused his position to benefit Sadadi Enterprises CC, a close corporation he jointly owned with his wife, Annarine Jacobs.
According to court documents, the case dates back to 2006, when Jacobs – then the most senior administrative official of the //Kharas Regional Council – authorised the transfer of N$30 000 to Sadadi Enterprises under the guise of funding a community vegetable garden project at Berseba.
The proposal, allegedly submitted on behalf of Jacobs’ nephew, Marius Jacobs, was said to be part of the council’s community upliftment initiative funded through 5% of levies collected from local towns and villages.
However, investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) later revealed that the garden was never established. Instead, the money was paid into Sadadi’s account and partially used by Jacobs to settle arrears on his private vehicle loan. While Jacobs claimed the project was legitimate and that the funds were later replenished, the High Court found no evidence to support this assertion.
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Sentencing in the case of former //Kharas chief regional officer and current chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Salmaan Jacobs has been postponed to February 2026 after defence lawyers indicated they intend to pursue a review before the Supreme Court.Last month, after more than a decade of legal wrangling, Jacobs was found guilty of corruption by the High Court, overturning his earlier acquittal in the Keetmanshoop Regional Court.
The High Court then ordered Jacobs to report himself to the Keetmanshoop Regional Court on 21 November for sentencing.
Jacobs appeared before magistrate Frans Frederick Anderson at the regional court.
Public prosecutor Basson Lilungwe told the court that the matter had been referred to the regional court specifically for sentencing and submitted a copy of the High Court judgment for the record. He also confirmed that the defence had formally notified the State of its intention to seek a review and was not yet ready to argue the sentence.
“The review application was only served on our office yesterday. We will oppose such application,” Lilungwe said, proposing agreed dates for written submissions.
Both parties agreed that the defence would file written submissions on the sentence by 19 January 2026, with the State responding by 26 January. Oral submissions before sentencing are scheduled to be heard on 2 February 2026.
Defence attorney Boris Isaacks confirmed that an application to stay the proceedings had been lodged on 21 November with the Supreme Court, and copies were served on the Keetmanshoop clerk of court, the prosecutor-general’s office and the High Court.
“In the event the Supreme Court has not pronounced itself, the defence intends to bring an application to stay the proceedings in this court,” Isaacks said.
Jacobs’ warning to appear was extended, with the court cautioning that a warrant of arrest may be issued should he fail to attend.
Acquittal overturned
The High Court ruling, delivered by acting judge Marelize du Plessis with judge Naomi Shivute concurring, marked a significant victory for the Office of the Prosecutor-General, which successfully appealed the 2014 acquittal.
The court found that Jacobs, a former deputy director in the international relations ministry, abused his position to benefit Sadadi Enterprises CC, a close corporation he jointly owned with his wife, Annarine Jacobs.
According to court documents, the case dates back to 2006, when Jacobs – then the most senior administrative official of the //Kharas Regional Council – authorised the transfer of N$30 000 to Sadadi Enterprises under the guise of funding a community vegetable garden project at Berseba.
The proposal, allegedly submitted on behalf of Jacobs’ nephew, Marius Jacobs, was said to be part of the council’s community upliftment initiative funded through 5% of levies collected from local towns and villages.
However, investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) later revealed that the garden was never established. Instead, the money was paid into Sadadi’s account and partially used by Jacobs to settle arrears on his private vehicle loan. While Jacobs claimed the project was legitimate and that the funds were later replenished, the High Court found no evidence to support this assertion.
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