Eba Kandovazu
NIGEL van Wyk, who earned a salary in excess of N$40 000 as an employee of disgraced former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala, has been denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Van Wyk, 37, who spent the past six months behind bars, was employed at a farm co-owned by Shanghala and James Hatuikulipi. He was arrested last year in December for attempting to remove critical evidence in the Fishrot corruption scandal from Shanghala’s house.
An additional charge has been added to his charge sheet, in that he reportedly received questionable payments in his personal account from his employers’ business accounts when he very well knew the money emanated from dubious dealings.
Van Wyk while testifying on his own behalf during the formal bail application stated that he was not aware of his employers’ dealings and that the money received was utilized for the maintenance of the farm, payments for domestic and farm workers, dog food, car washes amongst others.
Shanghala’s errand boy was also arrested while interfering with the arrest of his boss when detectives arrived at the farm in November last year. He was released on a warning shortly afterwards.
The state objected to the granting of bail because of fears that the suspect might re-offend.
Magistrate Ivan Gawanab, in handing down his judgment, stated that sufficient evidence against van Wyk is available to show that his intentions were clearly to protect his employers.
“As such, it would not be in the public’s interest or in the interest of the administration of Justice to grant bail,” the magistrate ruled.
