Zorena Jantze
EVIDENCE provided by state witness and Anti-Corruption Commission investigator Andreas Kanyangela in the ongoing bail hearing in the Windhoek High Court revealed that Fishrot-accused and former justice minister Sacky Shanghala searched for details on extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and that this shows Shanghala sought information on how to abscond without being brought back to the country.
Testifying before Judge Shafimana Ueitele, Kanyangela gave evidence on information extracted from Shanghala’s phone that he allegedly smuggled into his prison cell.
Kanyangela also provided travel documents of James Hatuikulipi which show that the former business tycoon applied for a residence permit in Dubai that will expire in June this year.
“A person conducted a search on Chrome, with regards to extradition from Dubai or in the United Arab Emirates. The search was conducted on the device discovered on Sacky Shanghala’s phone found in the correctional facility. There were two cell phones seized from James Hatuikulipi and Sacky Shanghala in March 2021,” Kanyangela said.
He said Shanghala was communicating with Hatuikulipi via their phones.
To date, cell phone devices were found on the Fishrot-accused on three occasions.
Devices were found on Pius Mwatelulo and Hatuikulipi during 2020, and on Hatuikulipi and Shanghala in 2021.
A cell phone was also found on Hatuikulipi in January this year.
Kanyangela further testified that records in Hatuikulipi’s passport showed that he has a UAE residence permit that expires on 15 June 2022.
He added that other links Hatuikulipi has to the UAE are payments made to Tundavala Invest, a Dubai-based company he owns.
Documents showed payments were made by Mermaria Seafood, a subsidiary of the Icelandic-owned fishing company group Samherji, and the beneficiary was Tundavala Invest Ltd.
“We have evidence that was retrieved from the cell phone of Sacky Shanghala on research on possible extradition from Dubai which is an indication that he might wish to leave Namibia,” Kanyangela said.
He further noted that the N$60 million paid to Tundavala Invest is more than enough for the accused to set up a new life in Dubai and that they may have access to these funds.
“Their assets are currently under preservation by the State and there is a possibility that the assets will be forfeited to the State, and there is not really much preventing them from leaving the country, except family ties,” Kanyangela said.
