I was ignorant – Sisa
The lawyer said he did not know of Fishcor’s N$15 million until December 2019, after the Fishrot scandal had come to the fore.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Lawyer Sisa Namandje says he was “completely ignorant” about the government objective concept and that he did not know about a N$15 million transfer made into his firm’s trust account from Fishcor until four years later.
The lawyer is widely accused of having his firm’s trust account used as a transfer belt for ill-gotten money linked to the Fishrot scandal, arguably the country’s largest post-independence corruption syndicate.
Namandje’s sentiments are contained in a sworn statement he made to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in which he, amongst others, narrate how public funds ended up funding the ruling Swapo’s political activities.
The quotas for governmental objectives have over the years been allocated to Fishcor, which has transferred over N$15 million to the trust account of Namandje’s law firm in December 2015.
The lawyer said he did not know at the time until December 2019, that the payment of N$15 million came from Fishcor.
Adamant
Unlike lawyer Maren de Klerk who said in his affidavit that his law firm’s trust account was in part used in order for him to enhance his financial opportunities, Namandje is adamant there was no ill intent on his part.
He cited, as an example of honesty, why he returned N$1.8 million paid into his company’s trust account back to Seaflower in February 2019, because the aim of the payment was not clear to him. Seaflower is a subsidiary of Fishcor.
Namandje said questions regarding the transfers in question should be directed to Fishcor.
“I did not know at the relevant time whether the payments queried have anything to do with what I now understand to be ‘government objectives’. I was completely ignorant and not aware of the concept of government objectives in this context,” he said in his sworn statement that was recently leaked.
This quota – for governmental objectives – was introduced by former fisheries minister Bernhard Esau in 2014.
“I did not realise that the payment of N$2.5 million and N$15 million came from Fishcor and by extension had anything to do with what I have since understood to be government objectives. At all relevant times until now I believed the N$5 million made by a private company Esja Mermaria has nothing to do with Fishcor or government. This remains my belief to this date,” he said.
Namandje added: “Now that I am aware that at least two payments were made by Fishcor, I am not aware to this date whether or not Fishcor's internal processes and procedures were followed in making the queried payments.”
“It would in any way be difficult for any outsider to have any knowledge in that respect. I honestly believe that, this is something the Fishcor's management and board have to clarify, not third parties or outsiders in my view,” he said.
Namandje told ACC investigators that he called Fishcor’s then CEO Mike Nghipunya to inquire about the payments – which the latter, who is now in jail awaiting trial, confirmed.
Swapo leaders duck
The Swapo top brass has ducked questions about Sisa Namandje’s claims that at least N$7.5 million of the N$23 million managed in his firm’s trust account was paid out to fund the ruling party’s 2017 elective congress.
The party’s secretary-general, Sophia Shaningwa, yesterday urged Namibian Sun to be just patient and wait.
“I don’t have really a lot to say,” she remarked.
The party’s vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah declined to comment because the matter was before ACC for scrutiny.
Former Swapo secretary-general who is currently Namibia’s vice-president, Nangolo Mbumba, whom Namandje said was aware of the payments, refused to comment on a matter on the basis that it is before the court.
“I informed the (then) Swapo secretary-general Mr Nangolo Mbumba of the donation from Seaflower,” Namandje told investigators.
Payments galore
In an affidavit he submitted to the ACC, Namandje revealed that an amount of N$5 million was paid in August 2017 as a donation to Swapo, through his trust account, to benefit the party’s November 2017 congress activities.
Namandje, said between August and October 2014, during the time leading up to the 2014 national and presidential elections, Swapo requested his firm to assist with fundraising, in particular to receive donations on its behalf from various business and individuals.
It was during this time that a certain Mr Andreas from Seaflower informed his office that a donation of N$2.5 million had been made towards the funding of the Swapo congress activities.
However, because the Swapo file was already closed, this donation was on another Swapo file namely Lemon Square Fishing Trust Fund.
According to Namandje, this trust was established in 2015 and was 100% for the benefit of the Swapo Party to receive donations from any donor as part of their social responsibility.
WINDHOEK
Lawyer Sisa Namandje says he was “completely ignorant” about the government objective concept and that he did not know about a N$15 million transfer made into his firm’s trust account from Fishcor until four years later.
The lawyer is widely accused of having his firm’s trust account used as a transfer belt for ill-gotten money linked to the Fishrot scandal, arguably the country’s largest post-independence corruption syndicate.
Namandje’s sentiments are contained in a sworn statement he made to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in which he, amongst others, narrate how public funds ended up funding the ruling Swapo’s political activities.
The quotas for governmental objectives have over the years been allocated to Fishcor, which has transferred over N$15 million to the trust account of Namandje’s law firm in December 2015.
The lawyer said he did not know at the time until December 2019, that the payment of N$15 million came from Fishcor.
Adamant
Unlike lawyer Maren de Klerk who said in his affidavit that his law firm’s trust account was in part used in order for him to enhance his financial opportunities, Namandje is adamant there was no ill intent on his part.
He cited, as an example of honesty, why he returned N$1.8 million paid into his company’s trust account back to Seaflower in February 2019, because the aim of the payment was not clear to him. Seaflower is a subsidiary of Fishcor.
Namandje said questions regarding the transfers in question should be directed to Fishcor.
“I did not know at the relevant time whether the payments queried have anything to do with what I now understand to be ‘government objectives’. I was completely ignorant and not aware of the concept of government objectives in this context,” he said in his sworn statement that was recently leaked.
This quota – for governmental objectives – was introduced by former fisheries minister Bernhard Esau in 2014.
“I did not realise that the payment of N$2.5 million and N$15 million came from Fishcor and by extension had anything to do with what I have since understood to be government objectives. At all relevant times until now I believed the N$5 million made by a private company Esja Mermaria has nothing to do with Fishcor or government. This remains my belief to this date,” he said.
Namandje added: “Now that I am aware that at least two payments were made by Fishcor, I am not aware to this date whether or not Fishcor's internal processes and procedures were followed in making the queried payments.”
“It would in any way be difficult for any outsider to have any knowledge in that respect. I honestly believe that, this is something the Fishcor's management and board have to clarify, not third parties or outsiders in my view,” he said.
Namandje told ACC investigators that he called Fishcor’s then CEO Mike Nghipunya to inquire about the payments – which the latter, who is now in jail awaiting trial, confirmed.
Swapo leaders duck
The Swapo top brass has ducked questions about Sisa Namandje’s claims that at least N$7.5 million of the N$23 million managed in his firm’s trust account was paid out to fund the ruling party’s 2017 elective congress.
The party’s secretary-general, Sophia Shaningwa, yesterday urged Namibian Sun to be just patient and wait.
“I don’t have really a lot to say,” she remarked.
The party’s vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah declined to comment because the matter was before ACC for scrutiny.
Former Swapo secretary-general who is currently Namibia’s vice-president, Nangolo Mbumba, whom Namandje said was aware of the payments, refused to comment on a matter on the basis that it is before the court.
“I informed the (then) Swapo secretary-general Mr Nangolo Mbumba of the donation from Seaflower,” Namandje told investigators.
Payments galore
In an affidavit he submitted to the ACC, Namandje revealed that an amount of N$5 million was paid in August 2017 as a donation to Swapo, through his trust account, to benefit the party’s November 2017 congress activities.
Namandje, said between August and October 2014, during the time leading up to the 2014 national and presidential elections, Swapo requested his firm to assist with fundraising, in particular to receive donations on its behalf from various business and individuals.
It was during this time that a certain Mr Andreas from Seaflower informed his office that a donation of N$2.5 million had been made towards the funding of the Swapo congress activities.
However, because the Swapo file was already closed, this donation was on another Swapo file namely Lemon Square Fishing Trust Fund.
According to Namandje, this trust was established in 2015 and was 100% for the benefit of the Swapo Party to receive donations from any donor as part of their social responsibility.
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