Staff Reporter
FISHROT accused Sackeus Shanghala, the currently incarcerated former Minister of Justice, has questioned the attachment of his late mother’s house in the restraint order, which saw their assets seized by the state after they were believed to be proceeds of crime as prescribed in the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
The justice minister, who appeared frustrated, raised his voice at the judge, Moses Chinhengo, to do something about the obstruction by police officers, as well as Namibia Correctional Services, which allegedly prevent them from seeing the court-appointed curators of their frozen assets.
These seized assets include several bank accounts, property—including erven and flats—and luxury motor vehicles.
Sackeus Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo, Bernhardt Esau, Ricardo Gustavo, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Mike Nghipunya, Otneel Shuudifonya, Phillipus Mwapopi, and Nigel van Wyk are charged with corruptly receiving payments of at least N$300 million to give the Icelandic fishing company Samherji a competitive advantage in securing access to horse mackerel quotas in Namibia.
The accused face 42 counts, including racketeering, contravening the Anti-Corruption Act, conspiracy, corruptly using an office to receive gratification, fraud, theft, money laundering, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
“My mothers house is also confiscated. My mother died in 1988 in a bomb when this country was in the liberation struggle. Why is it attached? Is it a proceed of crime? These are the hamstrings. If you allow us to go see the curators and sort out the issues, we will be ready to proceed on the 4th of August,” an irate Shanghala said.
He added that some of the accused also have tax issues they need to sort out, which has effectively hampered them from accessing their funds for legal representation.
During the appearance on 11 February 2025, Judge Chinhengo explained that, albeit the fact that some of the accused still do not have legal representation and have other interlocutory applications, the Fishrot trial must commence on 4 August 2025.
The former Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernhardt Esau, agreed with the commencement of the trial and asked that it start sooner.
“In terms of this joint status report with regard to the proposal for the trial to start on the 4th of August, I have my reservations. We have been in remand for the past four years. I want this trial to start. The obstacle that the state has brought about is the appeal on my success in getting ahold of my funds to honour or to pay for legal counsel. The state must withdraw their appeal, and then we can start ASAP,” Esau said.
The case was postponed 25th February for final judgement on the continuation of trial date.
