Fishrot briber pleads guilty
The man who was arrested for offering an ACC investigator N$250 000 to access James Hatuikulipi’s bank cards has confessed to his sins.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Jason Iyambo, who attempted to bribe an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigator in January to get hold of bank cards belonging to Fishrot accused James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo, has pleaded guilty to the charge.
Court records show that Iyambo admitted to having tried to bribe ACC investigator Junias Iipinge with N$250 000 in exchange for bank cards assigned to former Investec managing director Hatukuilipi, as well as others belonging to Pius Mwatelulo.
Specifically, the items Iyambo is alleged to have wanted to get hold of are two Investec bank cards issued to Hatuikulipi, two Bank Windhoek cards issued to Mwatelulo and a handwritten document titled “allocation from the Anti-Corruption Commission”, The Namibian reported in January.
When Iyambo was arrested, Hatuikulipi and Mwatelulo were already in jail after being arrested in November 2019 as part of the so-called Fishrot bribery scandal.
Possible deal
Having admitted guilt on the charge of corruptly giving gratification as inducement, Magistrate Ivan Gawanab accordingly found Iyambo guilty.
Iyambo is set to return to the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court this Thursday for sentencing.
It is alleged that Iyambo worked in cahoots with Sakaria Kuutondokwa Kokule, a police reservist who was also arrested as a result of the alleged attempt to offer the ACC officer a bribe.
Kokule and Hatuikulipi are Iyambo’s co-accused in this matter, and both men pleaded not guilty when they appeared in court on 10 November.
Namibian Sun understands the State is offering Iyambo a deal to become its witness in the matter.
‘Not guilty’
According to court documents, Iyambo was found guilty of bribing of a public officer, but the State indicated it would not lead evidence against him on the first count.
Iyambo pleaded not guilty to the first count, which is the improperly influencing an authorised officer.
He will be put on a new case and will be separated from Hatuikulipi and Kokule’s trail, who have not pleaded to any of their charges.
It has also been decided that Iyambo would be discharged on count one in line with Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
This provision states that if, at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence referred to in the charge or any offence of which he may be convicted on the charge, it may return a verdict of not guilty.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Jason Iyambo, who attempted to bribe an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigator in January to get hold of bank cards belonging to Fishrot accused James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo, has pleaded guilty to the charge.
Court records show that Iyambo admitted to having tried to bribe ACC investigator Junias Iipinge with N$250 000 in exchange for bank cards assigned to former Investec managing director Hatukuilipi, as well as others belonging to Pius Mwatelulo.
Specifically, the items Iyambo is alleged to have wanted to get hold of are two Investec bank cards issued to Hatuikulipi, two Bank Windhoek cards issued to Mwatelulo and a handwritten document titled “allocation from the Anti-Corruption Commission”, The Namibian reported in January.
When Iyambo was arrested, Hatuikulipi and Mwatelulo were already in jail after being arrested in November 2019 as part of the so-called Fishrot bribery scandal.
Possible deal
Having admitted guilt on the charge of corruptly giving gratification as inducement, Magistrate Ivan Gawanab accordingly found Iyambo guilty.
Iyambo is set to return to the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court this Thursday for sentencing.
It is alleged that Iyambo worked in cahoots with Sakaria Kuutondokwa Kokule, a police reservist who was also arrested as a result of the alleged attempt to offer the ACC officer a bribe.
Kokule and Hatuikulipi are Iyambo’s co-accused in this matter, and both men pleaded not guilty when they appeared in court on 10 November.
Namibian Sun understands the State is offering Iyambo a deal to become its witness in the matter.
‘Not guilty’
According to court documents, Iyambo was found guilty of bribing of a public officer, but the State indicated it would not lead evidence against him on the first count.
Iyambo pleaded not guilty to the first count, which is the improperly influencing an authorised officer.
He will be put on a new case and will be separated from Hatuikulipi and Kokule’s trail, who have not pleaded to any of their charges.
It has also been decided that Iyambo would be discharged on count one in line with Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
This provision states that if, at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence referred to in the charge or any offence of which he may be convicted on the charge, it may return a verdict of not guilty.
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