Eba Kandovazu
AN application to keep convicted education minister out of police custody was approved by a High Court Judge this morning, shortly after she was found guilty on corruption charges.
Katrina Hanse-Himarwa’s lawyer Ndili Ndaitwah, of the Sisa Namandje law firm argued that there was no reason to keep her in custody until she would be sentenced because she stood trial, even while out on a warning.
Hanse-Himarwa in an interview after the guilty verdict was handed down, said she would be studying the judgement further with her lawyers to decide on whether or not she would appeal the conviction and the way forward.
Asked whether she would resign from her position as education minister, she said she would inform the general public later.
“Of course the guilty verdict has an impact on my political career but that for me is not even the end,” Hanse-Himarwa said.
In his judgment, Judge Christie Liebenberg found that Hanse-Himarwa did not take the court in to confidence and that she deliberately misled the court to suit her situation.
“The State has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused used her power to her satisfaction, to ensure that at least one of her relatives benefit from the mass housing project,” Judge Liebenberg said.
The matter is postponed to 24 July for submissions before sentencing.
