Court officials nabbed for corruption
The roll at the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court was delayed yesterday as a team of investigators probed court officials following the arrest of some of their colleagues implicated in corrupt activities.
Four employees of the court yesterday made their first appearance on differing charges of theft and corruption in connection with traffic fines, liquor licenses and maintenance payments.
On Friday, Ondangwa police arrested Adolf Geovani Simeon, 31, a court interpreter. Following further investigations, the police also arrested the court's chief clerk Martha Nakakuwa, 33, John Sauzuo, 58, a legal court clerk and Petrus Kalenga, 46, a messenger of the court, on Saturday.
They are all charged with theft and contravening the Anti-Corruption Act by using their offices or positions for gratification and defeating the course of justice.
Simson has an additional charge of fraud. Their arrests have been confirmed by Oshana police deputy commissioner Hilja Haipumbu.
Haipumbu said that Simeon was arrested on Friday and his case is on a separate record from the other three.
They appeared before a Magistrate Alvin Kenneth Simson and were prosecuted by Leonard Tjiveze from the Oshakati Magistrate's Court to ensure objectivity and no conflict of interest.
Their arrest follows allegations that they are implicated in a scam in which they allegedly solicited bribes from traffic offenders and issued fake liquor licenses.
It is also emerged that monies meant for children maintenance went missing shortly after it was brought into the court from NamPost.
According to information made available to Namibian Sun, investigations continue as it believed to be a network that includes senior officials at the court who have failed to report the issue that has been ongoing for some time.
The matter was postponed to 7 August.
ILENI NANDJATO
Four employees of the court yesterday made their first appearance on differing charges of theft and corruption in connection with traffic fines, liquor licenses and maintenance payments.
On Friday, Ondangwa police arrested Adolf Geovani Simeon, 31, a court interpreter. Following further investigations, the police also arrested the court's chief clerk Martha Nakakuwa, 33, John Sauzuo, 58, a legal court clerk and Petrus Kalenga, 46, a messenger of the court, on Saturday.
They are all charged with theft and contravening the Anti-Corruption Act by using their offices or positions for gratification and defeating the course of justice.
Simson has an additional charge of fraud. Their arrests have been confirmed by Oshana police deputy commissioner Hilja Haipumbu.
Haipumbu said that Simeon was arrested on Friday and his case is on a separate record from the other three.
They appeared before a Magistrate Alvin Kenneth Simson and were prosecuted by Leonard Tjiveze from the Oshakati Magistrate's Court to ensure objectivity and no conflict of interest.
Their arrest follows allegations that they are implicated in a scam in which they allegedly solicited bribes from traffic offenders and issued fake liquor licenses.
It is also emerged that monies meant for children maintenance went missing shortly after it was brought into the court from NamPost.
According to information made available to Namibian Sun, investigations continue as it believed to be a network that includes senior officials at the court who have failed to report the issue that has been ongoing for some time.
The matter was postponed to 7 August.
ILENI NANDJATO
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