More Fishrot arrests, Law Society confirms Sisa, Sacky probes
The Law Society of Namibia is investigating lawyer Sisa Namandje's trust account in light of revelations made in the Al Jazeera 'Fishrot' documentary.
Namandje's law firm's trust account is alleged to have channelled N$17.5 million in financial flows from public entity Fishcor.
Also under investigation is Walvis Bay lawyer Sacky Kadhila Amoomo, who allegedly played the role of fixer between foreign business people and former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi has confirmed that two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the Fishrot saga.
This brings the number of suspects in custody to eight. The new suspects cannot be named until they appear in court.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director-general Paulus Noa was also called yesterday to confirm the arrests, but said he wasn't aware that anyone else had been nabbed.
Namandje and Amoomo were identified in the Al Jazeera documentary 'Anatomy of a Bribe', which investigated the bribery scandal in Namibia's fishing industry.
The Law Society of Namibia was asked whether it would investigate the conduct of the two lawyers.
Its chairperson, Meyer van der Berg, said investigations were under way.
“The Law Society of Namibia has now formally commenced investigations into the trust accounts of implicated legal practitioners and the professional conduct of the legal practitioners involved.
“Formal action will be taken against all legal practitioners who acted contrary to the Legal Practitioners Act of 1995,” Van der Berg said.
It is alleged that Icelandic fishing company Samherji paid Esau, former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and their associates more than N$150 million in bribes to secure the allocation of horse-mackerel fishing quotas via Fishcor.
Esau, Shanghala, former Fishcor board chairperson James Hatuikulipi, Esau's son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi, suspended Investec employee Ricardo Gustavo and Pius Mwatelulo, a relative of the Hatuikulipis, are in custody awaiting trial. Their court case will resume on 20 February 2020.
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OGONE TLHAGE
Namandje's law firm's trust account is alleged to have channelled N$17.5 million in financial flows from public entity Fishcor.
Also under investigation is Walvis Bay lawyer Sacky Kadhila Amoomo, who allegedly played the role of fixer between foreign business people and former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi has confirmed that two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the Fishrot saga.
This brings the number of suspects in custody to eight. The new suspects cannot be named until they appear in court.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director-general Paulus Noa was also called yesterday to confirm the arrests, but said he wasn't aware that anyone else had been nabbed.
Namandje and Amoomo were identified in the Al Jazeera documentary 'Anatomy of a Bribe', which investigated the bribery scandal in Namibia's fishing industry.
The Law Society of Namibia was asked whether it would investigate the conduct of the two lawyers.
Its chairperson, Meyer van der Berg, said investigations were under way.
“The Law Society of Namibia has now formally commenced investigations into the trust accounts of implicated legal practitioners and the professional conduct of the legal practitioners involved.
“Formal action will be taken against all legal practitioners who acted contrary to the Legal Practitioners Act of 1995,” Van der Berg said.
It is alleged that Icelandic fishing company Samherji paid Esau, former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and their associates more than N$150 million in bribes to secure the allocation of horse-mackerel fishing quotas via Fishcor.
Esau, Shanghala, former Fishcor board chairperson James Hatuikulipi, Esau's son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi, suspended Investec employee Ricardo Gustavo and Pius Mwatelulo, a relative of the Hatuikulipis, are in custody awaiting trial. Their court case will resume on 20 February 2020.
[email protected]
OGONE TLHAGE
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