1
Tel: (061) 279600; Fax: 279602; PO Box 20783, Windhoek; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.namibian.com.na N$3 FRIDAY OCTOBER 7 2011 STILL T ELLING IT LIKE IT IS! VOL. 26 NO. 191 26 YEARS OF INDEPENDENT REPORTING See page 8 and 9 Spanish raid Namibian fish stocks See page 11 READERS’ LETTERS • Your SMS Views, Loud And Clear, p12-13 • Banks Commit ‘Daylight Robbery’ • Let Germany Keep Their Money Page 14 - 15 • DENVER KISTING A COURTROOM in the Windhoek Mag- istrate’s Court burst at the seams yesterday when members of the Macedonian Parish in Katutura flocked there to support their former shepherd. Former preacher of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN), Sem Japhet (32), and a fellow worshipper, Eunice Nakapunda (66), made a first court appearance on 15 charges of fraud, alternatively theft, and one count of theft. The cases against the two were opened by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Pastor in court over N$700 000 • JANA-MARI SMITH THE donation of Namibian wildlife to Cuba remains shrouded in secrecy even as Environment and Tour- ism Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, assured this newspaper that the process would be strictly monitored on the home front as well as with the international trade organisation which monitors the trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). The translocation of an estimated 150 ani- mals - said to include the ‘big five’ as well as a large number of other species - follows an earlier Cabinet decision confirming the gift to Cuba, including all the costs involved. Origi- nal estimates put the amount at about N$25 million, but the size of the wildlife ‘wish-list’ may at least quadruple, according to some. Confidentiality sur- rounds what some re- gard as political pay- back to Cuba for their assistance to Namibia’s liberation movement, Swapo, during the strug- gle years. There are fears that what is seen as a politi- cally motivated donation could place certain wild- life species at serious risk, both because of the travel distance and also due to the relocation to a tropical climate. But these concerns were dismissed by the Ministry of Environment ‘Noah’s ark’ to Cuba on track • DENVER KISTING EIGHT people, including the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Khorixas Town Council, allegedly concocted a fake tender to help cover a cash shortage at the local post office. Others who alleg- edly had a hand in the corruption include a married couple, siblings and a church min- ister. Nicodemus Gae- seb (52), the CEO, Eben Xoagub (37), the corporate affairs and hu- man resources officer, his wife, Berlinda Xoagus (36), the former NamPost postmaster, her brother, Jeremias Kheimseb (53), Daniel Geiseb (49), housing and property officer, Isaskar Ganeb (47), an ambulance driver, Elrey Esau (50) and Reverend Barry Goamub (48) were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Ganeb also owns Sipho Roads Con- struction and Security Services, while Esau is the owner of Khori Enterprise and the pastor owns Goamub Quick Security Services. The ACC claims that during April 2011 a fictitious construction tender was issued for the supply of bricks to the Khorixas Town Council. It is further alleged that the subse- quent payments generated were used to cover up deficits that arose at Nampost Khorixas involving Berlinda Xoagus, the former postmaster. The amount allegedly involved is close to N$400 000. Khorixas councillors land in court KHORIXAS : continued on page 2 IN HOT WATER... Former ELCRN min- ister Sem Japhet (above) and co-ac- cused Eunice Nakapunda (right) leave the cells at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday Photos: Henry van Rooi It is alleged that the duo and another church member, who is still on the run from the Police, defrauded the church of more than N$700 000. During their brief appearance yesterday morning, Public Prosecutor Samantha Dier- gaardt asked the court for a postponement until Tuesday, October 25, to enable to Police to arrest the remaining suspect. Diergaardt asked Magistrate Ingrid Un- engu to grant Sem bail in the amount of N$50 000 and Nakapunda bail of N$20 000. According to her, the offences which the PASTOR: continued on page 2 The project was undergoing extensive scrutiny by Cuban and Namibian veterinarian authorities, in order to ensure that the risks were managed properly. – Netumbo Nandi- Ndaitwah Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah CUBA: continued on page 2
