NAMCOR corruption accused granted bail in appeal

WINDHOEK, 28 MAR (NAMPA) - The Windhoek High Court has granted bail to six suspects accused in the multimillion-dollar National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) fraud and corruption case.

Judges Philanda Christiaan and Eileen Rakow, in a judgement delivered on Friday, set aside a ruling by a Windhoek magistrate last year which denied the suspects bail.

The judges found that the lower court had misdirected itself on both the facts and the law in refusing bail.

The court also held that the lower court failed to properly evaluate the evidence presented and did not adequately consider the suspects’ personal circumstances.

The suspects were arrested in July last year. They are former Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga, Peter Elindi, Malakia Elindi, former Namcor finance manager Jennifer Hamukwaya, Olivia Dunaiski and Leo Nandago.

They face allegations of having embezzled N.dollars 480 million from Namcor.

Peter and Malakia Elindi were each granted bail of N.dollars 50 000, while Mulunga, Hamukwaya, Dunaiski and Nandago were each granted bail of N.dollars 20 000.

The High Court further ordered that the suspects’ photographs and passport copies be circulated to every border post and airport pending the outcome of the criminal trial.

Peter Elindi, Malakia Elindi and Nandago were ordered not to leave the Ondangwa district without informing the investigating officer.

Dunaiski, Mulunga and Hamukwaya were ordered not to leave the Windhoek district without informing the investigating officer.

The court also ordered the suspects to report weekly to the Anti-Corruption Commission offices in Oshakati and Windhoek, respectively.

Other suspects in the matter are Cedric Willemse, Austin Elindi, Martha Antindi, Johanna Mundjego and Heidi Boois.

Another wanted suspect, Victor Malima, reportedly fled the country and has not yet been arrested or charged in connection with the matter.
(NAMPA)
EB/HP