ACC want suspect’s assets frozen

By: OSWALD SHIVUTE

THE Anti-Corruption Commission will approach the High Court today to get an order to freeze the assets of civil servant Mikael Tuwilika Abner, who was arrested this week in connection with fraud of around N$1 million.

ACC director Paulus Noa told The Namibian yesterday that the graft body will also oppose any bail application by the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs official.
The ministry has budgeted around three billion over three years for payouts to veterans.
Each registered veteran is entitle to a N$50 000 lump sum payment and another N$200 000 dollars for viable income generating projects on top of N$2 000 monthly payments until death.
Abner (30), who worked as a community liaison officer, is accused of using his office for gratification by diverting around N$1 million meant for veterans of the liberation struggle.
It is alleged that he diverted money for war veterans’ projects into the account of his own company (TTL Investment CC ).
Initial reports indicated that he opened a bank account for TTL Investment in May with only N$100 but transferred N$1,1 million into that account two months later.
Thereafter, he is alleged to have withdrawn the funds from the company account while cash of over N$100 000 was allegedly also found stashed under a mattress at his mother’s house in a village near Ondangwa.
It is also alleged that Abner bought a fleet of cars to be used as taxis.
Noa confirmed that four of the six taxis were impounded and parked at the ACC offices in Oshakati while two were still at Buitepos Border Post awaiting customs clearance.
Noa said they have valuable information on how Abner allegedly siphoned the funds and his spending pattern.
The fraud came to light after some of the war veterans who were supposed to receive funds for their projects asked the ministry why it was taking so long for them to receive items such as vehicles that they ordered for their projects.
Abner appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He was not asked to plead and was not granted bail. He was advised to get legal representation.
The abuse of payouts for veterans has been reported in the media and there have been claims of double payments.
It is not known if if Abner was operating alone or whether he was working in concert with other people and whether the N$1 million he diverted is just an isolated incident.

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