Chinese national absconds
The ACC is investigating how a foreigner accused of bribery managed to get his passport back and skip bail.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating how another Chinese national accused of a crime managed to flee Namibia.
According to the ACC, 32-year-old Chinese national Allen Yue, absconded on 10 December after he had been released on N$50 000 bail earlier this year.
He somehow managed to leave the country despite having handed in his passport as part of his bail conditions.
His lawyer later requested the passport back from the court for the purposes of renewing Yue's work visa.
The ACC is now investigating how Yue managed to get hold of the passport.
According to the ACC, Yue is the second Chinese national facing corruption charges to have fled the country after being granted bail by the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court.
Yue was a site agent for Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction and allegedly solicited a bribe from the owner of a security company contracted by Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction to render security services at the Dunes Mall Construction site at Walvis Bay.
The owner of the security company allegedly approached Yue with regard to non-payment for security services rendered in March this year.
Yue then allegedly solicited an amount of N$35 000, which was N$5 000 for every month that the company had performed security services on the premises.
He allegedly demanded the bribe in exchange for processing the payment owed to the security company.
The ACC initiated a sting operation and Yue was arrested on 29 March in the vicinity of the Walvis Bay Lagoon after he had received a payment from the owner of the security company.
The case docket was forwarded to the prosecutor general for a decision and she decided to arraign Yue in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court on a charge of contravening section 35(1) (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act (corruptly soliciting or agreeing to accept gratification by agent as an inducement).
Yue was granted N$50 000 bail on 31 May. In terms of the bail conditions he had to hand in his passport, report to the police twice a week, and may not leave the district of Walvis Bay without informing the investigating officer, Inspector Walter Kurz.
On 11 October his lawyer, Richard Metcalfe of Metcalfe Attorneys, brought an application in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court to have Yue's passport released.
Metcalfe gave the following verbatim undertaking to the court as per the court record: “A company in Windhoek was in the process of renewing the work visa of the accused. The visa has not been so renewed and the company requires the passport for administrative purposes.
“I will take control and possession of the passport and hand to the company for processing of the visa. I will ensure that the company, once done will return it to the ACC.
“Therefore, I herewith apply to the court to grant an order wherein I take possession for the passport and hand it in for renewal of the visa. Once that is done I will make sure the passport is returned to Inspector Kurz.
“I will also give the court the undertaking that I will not hand the accused his passport.”
On 12 December the investigating officer became concerned because Metcalfe had not returned the passport. The officer visited the Walvis Bay police station to see if Yue was still reporting as the court ordered.
There it was discovered that he had last reported on 27 November. It was further discovered that Yue had absconded and left Namibia with his passport on 10 December via Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Subsequently the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court issued a warrant for Yue's arrest.
Anyone with information on his current whereabouts should contact Inspector Kurz on 081 128 4917, or 064-418309, or the nearest police station.
ELLANIE SMIT
According to the ACC, 32-year-old Chinese national Allen Yue, absconded on 10 December after he had been released on N$50 000 bail earlier this year.
He somehow managed to leave the country despite having handed in his passport as part of his bail conditions.
His lawyer later requested the passport back from the court for the purposes of renewing Yue's work visa.
The ACC is now investigating how Yue managed to get hold of the passport.
According to the ACC, Yue is the second Chinese national facing corruption charges to have fled the country after being granted bail by the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court.
Yue was a site agent for Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction and allegedly solicited a bribe from the owner of a security company contracted by Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction to render security services at the Dunes Mall Construction site at Walvis Bay.
The owner of the security company allegedly approached Yue with regard to non-payment for security services rendered in March this year.
Yue then allegedly solicited an amount of N$35 000, which was N$5 000 for every month that the company had performed security services on the premises.
He allegedly demanded the bribe in exchange for processing the payment owed to the security company.
The ACC initiated a sting operation and Yue was arrested on 29 March in the vicinity of the Walvis Bay Lagoon after he had received a payment from the owner of the security company.
The case docket was forwarded to the prosecutor general for a decision and she decided to arraign Yue in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court on a charge of contravening section 35(1) (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act (corruptly soliciting or agreeing to accept gratification by agent as an inducement).
Yue was granted N$50 000 bail on 31 May. In terms of the bail conditions he had to hand in his passport, report to the police twice a week, and may not leave the district of Walvis Bay without informing the investigating officer, Inspector Walter Kurz.
On 11 October his lawyer, Richard Metcalfe of Metcalfe Attorneys, brought an application in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court to have Yue's passport released.
Metcalfe gave the following verbatim undertaking to the court as per the court record: “A company in Windhoek was in the process of renewing the work visa of the accused. The visa has not been so renewed and the company requires the passport for administrative purposes.
“I will take control and possession of the passport and hand to the company for processing of the visa. I will ensure that the company, once done will return it to the ACC.
“Therefore, I herewith apply to the court to grant an order wherein I take possession for the passport and hand it in for renewal of the visa. Once that is done I will make sure the passport is returned to Inspector Kurz.
“I will also give the court the undertaking that I will not hand the accused his passport.”
On 12 December the investigating officer became concerned because Metcalfe had not returned the passport. The officer visited the Walvis Bay police station to see if Yue was still reporting as the court ordered.
There it was discovered that he had last reported on 27 November. It was further discovered that Yue had absconded and left Namibia with his passport on 10 December via Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Subsequently the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court issued a warrant for Yue's arrest.
Anyone with information on his current whereabouts should contact Inspector Kurz on 081 128 4917, or 064-418309, or the nearest police station.
ELLANIE SMIT
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