Avid accused hunts for lawyer

The Avid Investment fraud case, involving N$30 million that went missing from the coffers of the Social Security Commission (SSC), has been postponed until Thursday, so one of the accused, Inez /Gâses, can appoint a new lawyer.
This follows the withdrawal of advocate Werner Boesak last week from the matter, after citing that his mandate to appear on behalf of the/Gâses had been terminated.
He did not elaborate any further.
/Gâses is reportedly the cousin of the late Lazarus Kandara, who committed suicide in the company of the police in 2005, after being arrested in connection with the embezzlement of the SSC funds.
Judge Christie Liebenberg yesterday adjourned the proceedings to allow /Gâses to obtain a lawyer.
She is charged with Paulus Kapia, Mathias Shiweda, Otniel Podewiltz, Sharon Blaauw, Ralph Blaauw and Nico Josea.
The accused are facing charges of fraud, alternatively theft, in connection with the alleged embezzlement of the N$30 million that the SSC invested with Avid.
/Gâses, Podewiltz, Kapia, and Sharon Blaauw were all directors of Avid at some stage, while Ralph Blaauw and Shiweda are alleged to have associated themselves with the company.
/Gâses was the Avid Investment board chairperson.
During January 2005, Avid managed to persuade SSC top management to invest N$30 million with it.
However after the investment period of four months, Avid was not in a position to repay the invested funds.
This led to the SSC to have Avid provisionally liquidated in July 2005.

FRED GOEIEMAN