PG decides to prosecute in Namgomar case
Icelandic company Samherji said the prosecutor-general’s decision to prosecute their employees was not surprising.
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
The Namgomar Pesca fraud case, which forms part of the broader Fishrot corruption scandal, will be heading to the High Court after the prosecutor-general decided to prosecute those implicated.
The case involves money laundering to the tune of N$103 million involving former ministers Sacky Shanghala and Bernhardt Esau, former Investec executives James Hatuikulipi and Ricardo Gustavo, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo and Icelandic nationals Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason and Aðalsteinn Helgason.
The men face 21 charges related to money laundering, racketeering and fraud.
Shanghala’s assistant Nigel van Wyk will also be charged in the matter.
Van Wyk had initially been arrested for the possession of an illegal firearm and for obstructing the course of justice after he had allegedly tried to remove documents from Shanghala’s Klein Windhoek home.
The men are accused of benefitting off a bilateral agreement that had been signed between the Namibian and Angolan governments in 2014.
The alleged scheme
The scheme reportedly involved the signing of an agreement between the two countries and subsequent awarding of fishing quotas from the Namibian government to the Angolan government.
Namibia entered into a joint venture for horse mackerel with Angola, which was being represented by Namgomar SA Pesca, a sister company to Namgomar Pesca Namibia created in 2014.
Namgomar Pesca Namibia then entered into an agreement with Icelandic-owned company, Samherji, which allegedly paid more than N$100 million in kickbacks to businesspeople and politicians.
Gustavo runs Namgomar Pesca Namibia.
Life-changing trip
It all started on 16 January 2014 when Shanghala, James and Tamson Hatuikulipi, Gustavo, Johannes Stefansson and Sigudar ‘Siggi’ Olason travelled to Angola for a week to present a fishing proposal to that government that would change their lives forever.
They met Angola's former fisheries minister, Victória de Barros Neto, and her son Joao, who are alleged to be Namgomar players on the Angolan side.
Shanghala delivered a presentation on how Namgomar would operate and the role the Angolan government was expected to play.
The Angolan fisheries minister, Dr Fransisco Antonio Santos from Fadepa - a fund used to support the development of fishing - and other government officials were in attendance.
Not surprising
Samherji said the prosecutor-general’s decision to prosecute their employees was not surprising.
The matter will be heard in the High Court on 27 April. The suspects are remanded in custody.
Van Wyk’s lawyer, Jermaine Muchalli, has indicated that he will argue to not have his client charged in the matter.
WINDHOEK
The Namgomar Pesca fraud case, which forms part of the broader Fishrot corruption scandal, will be heading to the High Court after the prosecutor-general decided to prosecute those implicated.
The case involves money laundering to the tune of N$103 million involving former ministers Sacky Shanghala and Bernhardt Esau, former Investec executives James Hatuikulipi and Ricardo Gustavo, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo and Icelandic nationals Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason and Aðalsteinn Helgason.
The men face 21 charges related to money laundering, racketeering and fraud.
Shanghala’s assistant Nigel van Wyk will also be charged in the matter.
Van Wyk had initially been arrested for the possession of an illegal firearm and for obstructing the course of justice after he had allegedly tried to remove documents from Shanghala’s Klein Windhoek home.
The men are accused of benefitting off a bilateral agreement that had been signed between the Namibian and Angolan governments in 2014.
The alleged scheme
The scheme reportedly involved the signing of an agreement between the two countries and subsequent awarding of fishing quotas from the Namibian government to the Angolan government.
Namibia entered into a joint venture for horse mackerel with Angola, which was being represented by Namgomar SA Pesca, a sister company to Namgomar Pesca Namibia created in 2014.
Namgomar Pesca Namibia then entered into an agreement with Icelandic-owned company, Samherji, which allegedly paid more than N$100 million in kickbacks to businesspeople and politicians.
Gustavo runs Namgomar Pesca Namibia.
Life-changing trip
It all started on 16 January 2014 when Shanghala, James and Tamson Hatuikulipi, Gustavo, Johannes Stefansson and Sigudar ‘Siggi’ Olason travelled to Angola for a week to present a fishing proposal to that government that would change their lives forever.
They met Angola's former fisheries minister, Victória de Barros Neto, and her son Joao, who are alleged to be Namgomar players on the Angolan side.
Shanghala delivered a presentation on how Namgomar would operate and the role the Angolan government was expected to play.
The Angolan fisheries minister, Dr Fransisco Antonio Santos from Fadepa - a fund used to support the development of fishing - and other government officials were in attendance.
Not surprising
Samherji said the prosecutor-general’s decision to prosecute their employees was not surprising.
The matter will be heard in the High Court on 27 April. The suspects are remanded in custody.
Van Wyk’s lawyer, Jermaine Muchalli, has indicated that he will argue to not have his client charged in the matter.
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