ACC probes Katiti
18 April 2019 | Crime
Augustinus Katiti's attempts to have the Anti-Corruption Commission investigate his successor at the Namibia Institute of Pathology have backfired. The ACC is now investigating Katiti instead.
Katiti, who had been the CEO of the NIP until August 2018, claimed that acting CEO Mecky Nghipandulwa had not followed the Public Procurement Act when she appointed lawyers handling his disciplinary hearing.
Katiti was facing disciplinary charges of failing to protect the interests of the NIP and bringing the institute's name into disrepute.
NIP board spokesperson Frans Kwala yesterday confirmed that the ACC had now opened a case against Katiti.
“Mr Katiti, out of desperation, went to open a case with the ACC against the acting CEO for corruption, alleging that the Public Procurement Act was not followed in the appointment of the lawyers overseeing the disciplinary matters against him and the suspended executives,” Kwala said.
According to him, the board had unearthed Katiti's wrongdoing during his tenure as CEO of the NIP.
“[The] NIP's response through the board chairperson laid bare the malfeasance by Mr Katiti and the tide turned against him. Instead, the ACC started investigating him and the rest. Any further information in respect of the case can be obtained from the ACC,” Kwala said.
“NIP did not out of its own open any case with ACC but only responded to the allegations from Mr Katiti,” Kwala added.
Earlier this year, the NIP paid Katiti for the remainder of his contract.
“Mr Katiti opted to accept the six months' payment, which was the remainder of his contract since his dismissal. This was a humane gesture from the board's point of view as he was put in a position he would have been in had he concluded his contract. This should not be construed to mean a golden handshake,” Kwala said.
Kwala said there was never an intention to pay Katiti a performance bonus.
“Before the assessment of Mr Katiti and given the precarious financial position NIP found itself in due to Mr Katiti's malfeasance, the board resolved not to pay out any performance bonus to him because it was not justifiable. After the assessment it came out that he didn't achieve the requisite points to entitle him to a performance bonus,” he said.
When approached for comment, Katiti would neither confirm nor deny that he was being investigated by the ACC.
“Mr Kwala or the ACC must elaborate on what I am being investigated [for],” he said.
ACC spokesperson Josephine Nghituwamata did not respond to a query by the time of going to press.
Katiti's charges at the time of his suspension from the NIP in August 2018 included breach of trust, failure to protect NIP's interests, dishonesty, bringing the name of the NIP into disrepute, and wrongful withdrawals of money on more than one occasion, The Patriot reported.
OGONE TLHAGE
Katiti, who had been the CEO of the NIP until August 2018, claimed that acting CEO Mecky Nghipandulwa had not followed the Public Procurement Act when she appointed lawyers handling his disciplinary hearing.
Katiti was facing disciplinary charges of failing to protect the interests of the NIP and bringing the institute's name into disrepute.
NIP board spokesperson Frans Kwala yesterday confirmed that the ACC had now opened a case against Katiti.
“Mr Katiti, out of desperation, went to open a case with the ACC against the acting CEO for corruption, alleging that the Public Procurement Act was not followed in the appointment of the lawyers overseeing the disciplinary matters against him and the suspended executives,” Kwala said.
According to him, the board had unearthed Katiti's wrongdoing during his tenure as CEO of the NIP.
“[The] NIP's response through the board chairperson laid bare the malfeasance by Mr Katiti and the tide turned against him. Instead, the ACC started investigating him and the rest. Any further information in respect of the case can be obtained from the ACC,” Kwala said.
“NIP did not out of its own open any case with ACC but only responded to the allegations from Mr Katiti,” Kwala added.
Earlier this year, the NIP paid Katiti for the remainder of his contract.
“Mr Katiti opted to accept the six months' payment, which was the remainder of his contract since his dismissal. This was a humane gesture from the board's point of view as he was put in a position he would have been in had he concluded his contract. This should not be construed to mean a golden handshake,” Kwala said.
Kwala said there was never an intention to pay Katiti a performance bonus.
“Before the assessment of Mr Katiti and given the precarious financial position NIP found itself in due to Mr Katiti's malfeasance, the board resolved not to pay out any performance bonus to him because it was not justifiable. After the assessment it came out that he didn't achieve the requisite points to entitle him to a performance bonus,” he said.
When approached for comment, Katiti would neither confirm nor deny that he was being investigated by the ACC.
“Mr Kwala or the ACC must elaborate on what I am being investigated [for],” he said.
ACC spokesperson Josephine Nghituwamata did not respond to a query by the time of going to press.
Katiti's charges at the time of his suspension from the NIP in August 2018 included breach of trust, failure to protect NIP's interests, dishonesty, bringing the name of the NIP into disrepute, and wrongful withdrawals of money on more than one occasion, The Patriot reported.
OGONE TLHAGE
Classifieds