ACC can’t trace wanted Fishrot suspects

OGONE TLHAGE



WINDHOEK

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently searching for two men in relation to the Fishrot corruption scandal.

Windhoek City Police employee Philipus Mwaapopi and Otjozondjupa regional council deputy director Otneel Shuudifonya were supposed to appear in court on Monday, but the pair could not be traced, ACC said.

This after the Prosecutor-General indicated that the two men, as well as runaway lawyer Maren de Klerk, be arrested for their perceived roles in the multimillion-dollar scandal.

“Just wait, we are trying to trace these people,” ACC director-general Paulus Noa said.

The duo was meant to appear in court with their co-accused - former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau, former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, former Investec employees James Hatuikulipi and Ricardo Gustavo, former Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya, Tamson Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo.

Extradition looming

De Klerk is currently in South Africa. Extradition proceedings are in process to arrest and charge him for his role in the scandal.

An amount of N$75.6 million in alleged bribe money is alleged to have been transferred through the trust account of De Klerk’s law firm, DHC Incorporated.

The men face a string of charges related to money laundering and racketeering.

Noa did not elaborate on the role played by Shuudifonya and Mwaapopi, saying once it will become clear once they appear in court.

Internal action

City Police chief Abraham Kanime said he will take action against Mwaapopi.

He said he had come to learn about the City Police employee’s involvement through the media.

“I also learnt about it yesterday. I will start my investigation and act accordingly. We are also just getting the information and then we will act,” Kanime said.

He added that he had been looking for Mwaapopi since his involvement in the matter was reported, but has not seen him.

‘We don’t know anything’

Otjozondjupa regional council chief regional officer Agatha Mweti said she too had come to learn about her employee Shuudifonya’s pending arrest through media reports.

Shuudifonya is the council’s chief development planner and is Nghipunya’s alleged proxy.

Nghipunya has similarly been charged with money laundering and has been imprisoned since he handed himself in to the police in February.

Shuudifonya also runs several fish shops.

“We don’t know about it [Shuudifonya’s involvement]. The ACC has never given us a report. We don’t know anything,” Mweti said.