Hatuikulipi disguised bribes as facilitation
According to Fishrot whistleblower Johannes Stefansson, the Hatuikulipis preferred not to have any documentation of the monies paid in an effort to conceal the origin of the funds.
22 February 2021 | Crime
OGONE TLHAGE
Fishrot whistleblower Johannes Stefansson claims that Fishrot kingpin James Hatuikulipi disguised bribes paid to him as “facilitation fees”.
Hatuikulipi’s entity, Tundavala, is alleged to have received N$58.7 million between 2014 and 2019 according to a list of transactions seen by Namibian Sun.
His cousin, Tamson, received N$600 000 while an entity also owned by James received as much as N$49 million in transactions dating back to January 2012.
Tamson was paid an initial N$300 000 in January 2012 and another N$300 000 in May 2013 while payments to James and his entity, Karee Investments One Eight Zero date back to 2014.
Bribes
Commenting on the payments made, Stefansson said Tamson had been paid for his role in getting Samherji quotas while James had tried to conceal payments made to him.
“Fitty [Tamson] was paid regularly as he was working to get quotas for Samherji. Tundavala payments were payments from 2014 and onward for the Nangomar quotas. All this are bribes and illegal payments (sic),” Stefansson said.
“It was treated as consulting fee payments in the case of Tundavala and I think for Fitty,” he added.
According to Stefansson, the Hatuikulipis preferred not to have any documentation of the monies paid in an effort to conceal the origin of the funds.
Cyprus
Stefansson also claimed that monies were paid to accounts of James in Cyprus to the tune N$75 million.
James is believed to be the sole shareholder in Tundavala, which he registered in 2014 in the Emirate of Dubai.
Stefansson said in one of his statements to the Namibian authorities that it was decided in August 2014 that the Icelandic company, Samherji, would pay around 75% of the “usage fee” of the Namangor fishing quota to Tundavala Invest Ltd in Dubai, The Namibian reported in 2019.
Fishrot whistleblower Johannes Stefansson claims that Fishrot kingpin James Hatuikulipi disguised bribes paid to him as “facilitation fees”.
Hatuikulipi’s entity, Tundavala, is alleged to have received N$58.7 million between 2014 and 2019 according to a list of transactions seen by Namibian Sun.
His cousin, Tamson, received N$600 000 while an entity also owned by James received as much as N$49 million in transactions dating back to January 2012.
Tamson was paid an initial N$300 000 in January 2012 and another N$300 000 in May 2013 while payments to James and his entity, Karee Investments One Eight Zero date back to 2014.
Bribes
Commenting on the payments made, Stefansson said Tamson had been paid for his role in getting Samherji quotas while James had tried to conceal payments made to him.
“Fitty [Tamson] was paid regularly as he was working to get quotas for Samherji. Tundavala payments were payments from 2014 and onward for the Nangomar quotas. All this are bribes and illegal payments (sic),” Stefansson said.
“It was treated as consulting fee payments in the case of Tundavala and I think for Fitty,” he added.
According to Stefansson, the Hatuikulipis preferred not to have any documentation of the monies paid in an effort to conceal the origin of the funds.
Cyprus
Stefansson also claimed that monies were paid to accounts of James in Cyprus to the tune N$75 million.
James is believed to be the sole shareholder in Tundavala, which he registered in 2014 in the Emirate of Dubai.
Stefansson said in one of his statements to the Namibian authorities that it was decided in August 2014 that the Icelandic company, Samherji, would pay around 75% of the “usage fee” of the Namangor fishing quota to Tundavala Invest Ltd in Dubai, The Namibian reported in 2019.
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