Katrina turns to Supreme Court

Former education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa is turning to the Supreme Court to challenge her criminal conviction.The former Hardap governor, who was found guilty of corruption by High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg, yesterday applied for leave to appeal her conviction.Judge Liebenberg sentenced the former minister to 24 months' imprisonment or a N$50 000 fine. Hanse-Himarwa paid the fine. She was further sentenced to a one-year prison term which is suspended for five years. She said yesterday that she would no longer be represented by Sisa Namandje.“I and Sisa agreed, based on his heavy load, that for the appeal I must take Murorua, but they will work together. Sisa was even present in the court yesterday,” she said.Hanse-Himarwa was found guilty of corruptly using her former office as Hardap governor for gratification, and for removing two Mass Housing beneficiaries from a waiting list to make way for two of her relatives.The State was represented by Advocate Ed Marondedze yesterday, while Hanse-Himarwa has roped in South African heavyweight lawyer Barry Roux. When arguing in mitigation of sentence last year, Namandje said Hanse-Himarwa deeply regrets her actions and has already paid a steep price for her crime. Namandje put on record that Hanse-Himarwa's annual income took a battering when she stepped down as minister, dropping from over a N$1 million to “just above N$690 000” as an ordinary member of parliament.Further, her legal bill totalled N$1.4 million, of which she still owed more than N$800 000.“The legal bill is a massive financial burden on her shoulders. This is again part of the pain and suffering arising out of her commission of the offence,” he said.Namandje further, at the time, urged the court to take into consideration that the “victims” of Hanse-Himarwa's crime were not wronged in the long run. “There was no complete denial of an important part of their lives. There was simply a delay of a month or two,” Namandje argued. He further pointed out that apart from supporting several children, two of whom are unemployed, and two grandchildren, Hanse-Himarwa is responsible for the care of her elderly and sickly mother. Her husband is also struggling with his health, the court was told.-jemima@namibiansun.com

Katrina turns to Supreme Court

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Katrina turns to Supreme Court

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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