ACC, police decline Mathe probe
Both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Namibian police have elected to not criminally pursue a case brought to them by New Era Publication Corporation (NEPC) against the company's former CEO Audrin Mathe.
NEPC reported Mathe to the two authorities over a vehicle which both parties - Mathe and his former employers - claim ownership of.
In September NEPC opened a case of theft and fraud against Mathe for transferring the vehicle onto his name without the company's approval.
NEPC bought the Range Rover Sport for the office of its CEO, but it is the conditions of this perk that the two parties seem to interpret differently, which led to the current fallout.
The car was transferred and registered in Mathe's name on 4 April 2019, three months after his departure from the corporation in January.
Mathe left with the car in January, arguing it was part of his employment package, Nampa reported last month.
But it is the registration of the car onto Mathe's name that seems to have drawn the ire of NEPC, which argued the act was fraudulent as such a transfer should only take place with the blessing of the original registered owner.
Recently, the ACC opted not to pursue the matter further, saying it fell outside its scope of work. It suggested that police deal with it instead.
The police yesterday officially closed its investigation into the matter. “Your complaint amounts to a civil case, therefore you may seek legal advice because this is not a police matter,” reads a police letter to NEPC yesterday.
“The case is closed by the police as unfounded.”
Mathe said yesterday he plans on suing the NEPC board of directors in their individual capacities for having persisted with the matter, which he believes has brought his name into disrepute.
Whether the board's term, which officially ends this week, is extended or not, Mathe said he would go after the directors.
Namibian Sun understands the state-owned media house plans on dragging Mathe to court for a civil litigation.
STAFF REPORTER
NEPC reported Mathe to the two authorities over a vehicle which both parties - Mathe and his former employers - claim ownership of.
In September NEPC opened a case of theft and fraud against Mathe for transferring the vehicle onto his name without the company's approval.
NEPC bought the Range Rover Sport for the office of its CEO, but it is the conditions of this perk that the two parties seem to interpret differently, which led to the current fallout.
The car was transferred and registered in Mathe's name on 4 April 2019, three months after his departure from the corporation in January.
Mathe left with the car in January, arguing it was part of his employment package, Nampa reported last month.
But it is the registration of the car onto Mathe's name that seems to have drawn the ire of NEPC, which argued the act was fraudulent as such a transfer should only take place with the blessing of the original registered owner.
Recently, the ACC opted not to pursue the matter further, saying it fell outside its scope of work. It suggested that police deal with it instead.
The police yesterday officially closed its investigation into the matter. “Your complaint amounts to a civil case, therefore you may seek legal advice because this is not a police matter,” reads a police letter to NEPC yesterday.
“The case is closed by the police as unfounded.”
Mathe said yesterday he plans on suing the NEPC board of directors in their individual capacities for having persisted with the matter, which he believes has brought his name into disrepute.
Whether the board's term, which officially ends this week, is extended or not, Mathe said he would go after the directors.
Namibian Sun understands the state-owned media house plans on dragging Mathe to court for a civil litigation.
STAFF REPORTER
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