Ex-sports commission officials get bail
The Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday released two former officials of the Namibia Sports Commission after it found that there was no risk that they would abscond.
Magistrate Vanessa Stanley ruled that the two accused, Walter Haseb and Ivonne Pihonge Nande, both have income-generating businesses and are Namibian citizens with strong roots.
“It is doubtful that they will interfere with the investigation or with the State witnesses since they are no longer employed at the Namibian Sport Commission,” Stanley stated and fixed bail for each at N$40 000, with strict conditions.
She emphasised that bail cannot be refused only because a person holds public office and that the applicants are suitable candidates for bail.
Haseb and Nande were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission in July this year for allegedly embezzling N$4.9 million from the sport commission.
Their bail conditions include that they may not leave the district of Okahandja, where they reside, without the consent of the investigating officer.
They must report to the investigating officer every Friday, must hand in their travel documents and may not apply for any new documents.
State prosecutor Joseph Andreas had opposed bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the case and for fear of interference with ongoing investigations.
He said the State had a strong case against the accused and that it would not be in the interest of the administration of justice for them to be released on bail.
However, the magistrate stated that a bail application is not to prove guilt but to show strong a case is on face value.
“There is no credible evidence that there is risk for the accused to abscond,” Stanley said.
Andreas referred to their alleged interference with the investigation and said one of them had approached the auditor and attempted to bribe him with N$400 000.
According to him that is enough to have the accused stand trial on prima facie evidence in view of the fact that they are likely to face a lengthy jail term if found guilty.
The defence lawyers, Vetu Uanivi and Kadhila Amoomo, argued that there was no proof that there was any attempt by the accused to bribe the auditor. Rather, their clients had been cooperative and had assisted the investigators.
The matter was postponed to 19 February 2018 for further investigation.
FRED GOEIEMAN
Magistrate Vanessa Stanley ruled that the two accused, Walter Haseb and Ivonne Pihonge Nande, both have income-generating businesses and are Namibian citizens with strong roots.
“It is doubtful that they will interfere with the investigation or with the State witnesses since they are no longer employed at the Namibian Sport Commission,” Stanley stated and fixed bail for each at N$40 000, with strict conditions.
She emphasised that bail cannot be refused only because a person holds public office and that the applicants are suitable candidates for bail.
Haseb and Nande were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission in July this year for allegedly embezzling N$4.9 million from the sport commission.
Their bail conditions include that they may not leave the district of Okahandja, where they reside, without the consent of the investigating officer.
They must report to the investigating officer every Friday, must hand in their travel documents and may not apply for any new documents.
State prosecutor Joseph Andreas had opposed bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the case and for fear of interference with ongoing investigations.
He said the State had a strong case against the accused and that it would not be in the interest of the administration of justice for them to be released on bail.
However, the magistrate stated that a bail application is not to prove guilt but to show strong a case is on face value.
“There is no credible evidence that there is risk for the accused to abscond,” Stanley said.
Andreas referred to their alleged interference with the investigation and said one of them had approached the auditor and attempted to bribe him with N$400 000.
According to him that is enough to have the accused stand trial on prima facie evidence in view of the fact that they are likely to face a lengthy jail term if found guilty.
The defence lawyers, Vetu Uanivi and Kadhila Amoomo, argued that there was no proof that there was any attempt by the accused to bribe the auditor. Rather, their clients had been cooperative and had assisted the investigators.
The matter was postponed to 19 February 2018 for further investigation.
FRED GOEIEMAN
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