N$200m August 26 probe in full swing - Kapofi
11 October 2021 | Local News
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Defence minister Frans Kapofi says criminal investigations into fraud, tax evasion and money-laundering, launched in March, into the controversial August 26 are still ongoing.
The minister described the case as an important one, saying police should be allowed to carefully gather and consider evidence.
The Namibian police investigation is looking at a period of more than 10 years and is slightly delayed because of this stretch of time and because some institutions are slow to provide additional information required for the investigation.
“I would therefore like to request that we allow the police some space and time to do a thorough investigation so that all loopholes are sealed and we don't come back to this house and start blaming them for not having done a good job,” he said.
Kapofi told Parliament the police informed his office they are still waiting for documents and other information from various institutions.
“There is a number of witnesses who had to provide statements under oath. I can assure you that the majority of witness statements have been obtained. I would like to believe that it is in everybody’s interest for the investigation to be conducted in a proper manner.
“This is an important case and the police is therefore carefully gathering and considering evidence,” he said.
N$200m transfer
In April, the police confirmed that its commercial crime investigation division launched a probe into August 26 after the defence ministry opened a case of money laundering and fraud charges to the tune of N$200 million.
The investigation followed Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda's claims that former defence minister Peter Vilho sanctioned a N$200 million transfer from the ministry to August 26 in 2017 without Treasury's approval.
Vilho, who was relieved of his ministerial position following a meeting with President Hage Geingob about this issue, was executive director in the defence ministry at the time of the alleged transfer.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Defence minister Frans Kapofi says criminal investigations into fraud, tax evasion and money-laundering, launched in March, into the controversial August 26 are still ongoing.
The minister described the case as an important one, saying police should be allowed to carefully gather and consider evidence.
The Namibian police investigation is looking at a period of more than 10 years and is slightly delayed because of this stretch of time and because some institutions are slow to provide additional information required for the investigation.
“I would therefore like to request that we allow the police some space and time to do a thorough investigation so that all loopholes are sealed and we don't come back to this house and start blaming them for not having done a good job,” he said.
Kapofi told Parliament the police informed his office they are still waiting for documents and other information from various institutions.
“There is a number of witnesses who had to provide statements under oath. I can assure you that the majority of witness statements have been obtained. I would like to believe that it is in everybody’s interest for the investigation to be conducted in a proper manner.
“This is an important case and the police is therefore carefully gathering and considering evidence,” he said.
N$200m transfer
In April, the police confirmed that its commercial crime investigation division launched a probe into August 26 after the defence ministry opened a case of money laundering and fraud charges to the tune of N$200 million.
The investigation followed Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda's claims that former defence minister Peter Vilho sanctioned a N$200 million transfer from the ministry to August 26 in 2017 without Treasury's approval.
Vilho, who was relieved of his ministerial position following a meeting with President Hage Geingob about this issue, was executive director in the defence ministry at the time of the alleged transfer.
[email protected]
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