Five found guilty of corruption over the past 15 months
ESTER KAMATI
OTJIWARONGO
Between March 2020 and May 2021, five individuals have been convicted of corrupt dealings.
Adelma Seibes, an employee of the Otjiwarongo municipality, was on 6 May sentenced to three years imprisonment after it was discovered that she had presented a false deed of sale agreement to qualify for a plot valued at N$234 236.30.
Seibes, a senior administrative officer of the municipality, was found guilty of using a false document by an agent, which the court described as a serious offence.
“We cannot allow our institutions to be eroded for selfish reason and there is a need for those involved to be deterred,” Magistrate Karrel Muyeghu found.
The 36-month term was suspended for four years on condition that Seibes is not convicted of the same offence during the period of suspension.
Seibes accepted the ruling. “I was naive to follow something like this and if I knew I would not have done this as I am a respected person in society,” she said.
Other corruption cases
Former unionist Sakeus Taapopi Shikongo was found guilty of using his office for gratification and was sentenced to a fine of N$20 000, of which N$5 000 was suspended, or three years’ imprisonment, of which nine months were conditionally suspended for three years.
Shikongo was arrested on 9 July 2019 after he was found to have received a N$2 500 bribe from the managing director of Hickory Creek Spur to persuade the company’s employees to accept a 3% increase in hourly pay as opposed to between 9% and 12% as demanded by the employees.
Another corruption case involved 33-year-old Jason Iiyambo, who was given an 18-month jail term of which nine months were suspended for five years after bribing an ACC official.
A school principal in Swakopmund was also found guilty of corruption and was handed a 36-month suspended jail term on condition that she reimburse the education ministry for their losses.
The last case involved a member of the public who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or a N$6 000 fine.
OTJIWARONGO
Between March 2020 and May 2021, five individuals have been convicted of corrupt dealings.
Adelma Seibes, an employee of the Otjiwarongo municipality, was on 6 May sentenced to three years imprisonment after it was discovered that she had presented a false deed of sale agreement to qualify for a plot valued at N$234 236.30.
Seibes, a senior administrative officer of the municipality, was found guilty of using a false document by an agent, which the court described as a serious offence.
“We cannot allow our institutions to be eroded for selfish reason and there is a need for those involved to be deterred,” Magistrate Karrel Muyeghu found.
The 36-month term was suspended for four years on condition that Seibes is not convicted of the same offence during the period of suspension.
Seibes accepted the ruling. “I was naive to follow something like this and if I knew I would not have done this as I am a respected person in society,” she said.
Other corruption cases
Former unionist Sakeus Taapopi Shikongo was found guilty of using his office for gratification and was sentenced to a fine of N$20 000, of which N$5 000 was suspended, or three years’ imprisonment, of which nine months were conditionally suspended for three years.
Shikongo was arrested on 9 July 2019 after he was found to have received a N$2 500 bribe from the managing director of Hickory Creek Spur to persuade the company’s employees to accept a 3% increase in hourly pay as opposed to between 9% and 12% as demanded by the employees.
Another corruption case involved 33-year-old Jason Iiyambo, who was given an 18-month jail term of which nine months were suspended for five years after bribing an ACC official.
A school principal in Swakopmund was also found guilty of corruption and was handed a 36-month suspended jail term on condition that she reimburse the education ministry for their losses.
The last case involved a member of the public who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or a N$6 000 fine.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article