Eba Kandovazu
THE possibility that more people might be arrested in the Fishrot fishing corruption saga was cited as a reason for the dismissal of Mike Nghipunya’s bail appeal in the high court this morning.
The two presiding High Court Judges, Christie Liebenberg and Claudia Claasen, in dismissing the former Fishcor executive’s bail application also noted that the fact that investigations are cross border and that millions of tax payers’ monies are involved also plays against Nghipunya, who challenged the decision of a Magistrate at the lower courts, who denied him bail.
BAIL DENIED: Mike Nghipunya
Nghipunya has been charged alongside other prominent figures including former fisheries minister Bernard Esau, former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala, former Investec Asset Management Managing Director James Hatuikulipi, his cousin, businessman Tamson Hatuikulipi, Former Senior Manager at Investec Ricardo Gustavo and one Pius Mwatelula.
The judges also maintained in their judgment that distinguishing between the seriousness of monetary crimes and violent crimes can no longer be seen to be different in bail applications.
Nghipunya was denied bail by Deputy Chief Magistrate Ingrid Unengu.
“Looking at the evidence given by the investigating officer, both orally and the documentary evidence before court, and weighed against the bare denial of the appellant, the court is satisfied that the magistrate did not misdirect herself when finding that the state prima facie established the appellant’s involvement in a criminal syndicate, having acted with common purpose in furtherance of illicit transactions,” the two Justices found.
