FORMER Nationwide Fishing Company of Namibian (Fishcor) finance supervisor Paulus Ngalangi stated N$17,5 million paid from Fishcor’s checking account to the regulation agency Sisa Namandje & Co was geared toward funding “governmental targets”.
Ngalangi stated this in an affidavit submitted to the Anti-Corruption Fee (ACC) two years in the past and filed on the Excessive Courtroom on the finish of final yr.
As a substitute of funding authorities tasks, reminiscent of drought programmes, round N$15 million was later paid to businessman Vaino Nghipondoka and Swapo’s Oshikoto regional coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu, in 2015.
Ngalangi’s affidavit, which was by no means reported within the media, supplies an perception into how politically linked people benefited from public funds through lawyer Sisa Namandje’s regulation agency. Namandje has denied any wrongdoing.
Accountant Ngalangi was appointed as Fishcor’s finance normal supervisor in April 2015, round six months after James Hatuikulipi was appointed as Fishcor’s board chairperson. Ngalangi is claimed to be near Hatuikulipi.
A supply conversant in their background stated the 2 grew up collectively and Hatuikulipi was like Ngalangi’s massive brother.
Ngalangi was in command of Fishcor’s funds throughout occasions that resulted within the Fishrot corruption scandal.
He submitted an affidavit to the ACC two years in the past to clarify his function within the Fishrot scandal.
One of many controversial funds executed by Ngalangi as finance supervisor was a switch of N$17,5 million to Namandje’s regulation agency.
Ngalangi stated Fishcor transferred N$15 million in December 2015 to Sisa Namandje & Co, whereas N$2,5 million was paid in August 2017.
“I’m conscious of this fee of N$15 million, which was constructed from the Financial institution Windhoek account of Fishcor in December 2015 to Sisa Namandje & Co Inc’s belief account. So far as my recollection is worried, the fee was for presidency targets and it was an instruction obtained verbally from Mr Mike Nghipunya,” Ngalangi acknowledged in his affidavit.
The definition of presidency targets might be a key battle within the prison case concerning the Fishrot scandal that’s at present pending within the Excessive Courtroom.
Ngalangi stated his understanding was that “authorities targets are help to the federal government”.
Fishcor additionally transferred N$50 million into regulation agency Ellis Shilengudwa Inc’s belief account in 2017.
Ellis Shilengudwa Inc is co-owned by lawyer Jurie Badenhorst, who has for years acted as a lawyer for former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and Hatuikulipi.
Ngalangi stated this transaction concerned funds for the Etale property, as a part of the state-owned Fishcor’s contribution to the Seaflower Pelagic Processing three way partnership with the entity African Choice Belief (AST).
“My solely function on this transaction was to impact the funds as per the e-mail instruction of Mike Nghipunya,” he stated.
“I needed to cut up the transaction into completely different transactions as digital fund switch transactions solely enable for a most quantity of N$5 million per transaction,” he stated.
Ellis Shilengundwa Inc issued an announcement to The Namibian two years in the past, denying any wrongdoing.
“The N$50 million documented in your letter was paid to a vendor, as a part of a transaction associated to the acquisition of a fish processing manufacturing unit at Walvis Bay, following approval by the Namibian Competitors Fee,” the regulation agency’s board stated.
The Namibian reported two years in the past that Fishcor – whose board was headed by Hatuikulipi – purchased a fish manufacturing unit on the coast for N$160 million in 2016 amid considerations that the parastatal overpaid by as a lot as N$50 million for the property.
Supply: namibian
