Staff Reporter
PETER Elindi, the businessman before court on fraud and corruption charges, has feigned ignorance on claims of money laundering after an amount of N$9.5 million paid by his former company, Eco Trading—owned by Victor Malima—was allegedly forwarded for the payment of bribes to former NAMCOR finance executive Jennifer Hamukwaya’s husband’s company, Panduleni Farming CC.
The State alleges that N$9.5 million was paid by Enercon Trading to Eco Trading, and from this amount, N$1.47 million was paid to Quality Meat Supplies on 20 July 2022. Of that amount, N$960,000 was allegedly paid to former NAMCOR executive of supply and logistics, Cornelius Cedric Willemse, while N$500,000 was paid into Panduleni Farming CC, a company owned by Panduleni Hamukwaya, the husband of Jennifer.
These funds were allegedly sent to the two executives to approve the fraudulent deal in which nine service stations were bought by NAMCOR from Enercon, which were already encumbered under a 15-year agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Enercon. This resulted in NAMCOR not having access to the assets, for which they paid N$53.2 million.
It is further alleged that Malima, who is related to Peter Elindi’s wife, also bought accused number one, Immanuel Mulunga, an Audi Q8 valued at about N$3.2 million.
State Prosecutor Basson Lilungwe put it to Elindi that he had been part of a money laundering syndicate, as the amounts forwarded to Eco Trading from Enercon were allegedly paid to disguise their origin.
To this, Elindi said that the N$9.5 million sent by Enercon to Eco Trading was to pay for fuel supplied to Enercon.
“Enercon sent that money for fuel supply. All the transactions by Eco Trading had nothing to do with me. The owner of Eco Trading acted independently. It would be good if you direct that question to him when they appear,” Elindi said.
Victor Malima, the owner of Eco Trading, is currently a fugitive being sought by the Anti-Corruption Commission, after allegedly fleeing to Angola last Friday.
