Christmas behind bars for Esau and Fitty

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK



Yet another bail application by former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau and his son-in-law, Tamson 'Fitty' Hatuikulipi, has been postponed to 25 January 2021.

Esau and Hatuikulipi were arrested in November last year in connection with the Fishrot corruption scandal. They have made several unsuccessful applications to be released on bail.

In the latest hearing, High Court judges Harold Geier and Marlene Tommasi ordered that the State submit its supplementary heads of argument by 15 January, while lawyers for Hatuikulipi and Esau must submit their response to these by 22 January.



Alleged crimes

Esau and Hatuikulipi face charges of money-laundering and fraud related to the Fishrot bribery scandal.

Esau and Hatuikulipi both initially applied for bail in July 2020. Esau argued that he could not maintain payments on his medical aid and life insurance policies because of his continued stay behind bars and that he was further not in a position to take care of his wheelchair-bound daughter.

Esau added that he was not corrupt as portrayed by the media and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Hatuikulipi for his part argued that it would be in the interest of the administration of justice if he was granted bail to allow him to mobilise financial resources to prove his innocence.

In the Nangomar case, Esau and Hatuikulipi are charged alongside former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, former Investec CEO James Hatuikulipi, former Investec business manager Ricardo Gustavo and Hanganeni employee Pius Mwatelulo.

In the Fishcor case, both Esau and Hatuikulipi are charged alongside former Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya.