Drama at Khorixas fraud trial

By: CLEMANS MIYANICWE

A WITNESS in the N$400 000 fraud and corruption case of top officials in the Khorixas Town Council was charged with perjury yesterday and locked up. Kenneth Namaseb will appear in court on a charge of perjury today after he deviated from an affidavit he had given to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigator Oberty Inambao. In his sworn statement to the ACC, Namaseb claimed that he did not receive any payment in connection with a municipal tender.

But yesterday he told the court that he was paid N$6 000.

This caused consternation and heated arguments between State Prosecutor OJ Lino and some defence lawyers.

The arguments erupted after Lino said that Nawaseb should be arrested and charged with perjury.

Lino accused Nawaseb of telling the court two different versions. 

He told ACC investigators last year that he did not receive a cent for being a signatory to a document that served as alleged proof that a company called Kheimseb and Partners had received a municipal tender worth N$180 000 to renovate the Khorixas Town Council’s offices.

He said he made the statement under oath because he was threatened by Inambao. “This is the statement I gave when threatened,” Nawaseb repeated himself in court.

The State Prosecutor told Magistrate Alexis Diergaardt that the witness would be declared a hostile witness. 

Sisa Namandje, one of the defence lawyers, objected and said that any evidence obtained under torture or threat may not be accepted in Namibian courts.

After the midday recess Namandje and Lino had a heated argument as two police officers escorted Nawaseb out of the courtroom.

“What are you doing with him?” Namandje asked Lino.

Lino replied: “To arrest him. I can make decisions as he can even be arrested for perjury.”

In reply Namandje said: “It will be an unlawful arrest.”

The main fraud and corruption trial will continue tomorrow.

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