ACC exposes alleged million-dollar fuel station fraud involving Namcor deal

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) alleges a Namcor fuel station purchase deal was a planned fraud, funnelling millions through a seemingly legitimate contract to various beneficiaries.

ACC investigative officer Oberty Inambao says documents attached to the purchase agreement of nine fuel base stations from Enercon Namibia by former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) managing director Imms Mulunga was a conspiracy set to defraud the company of millions.

Inambao in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday said evidence of this “conspiracy” dates back to October 2021, before any prior engagement of the contested agreement was signed by both Namcor and Enercon officials on 18 July 2022.

He claims the asset purchase agreement followed all the necessary steps required by Namcor to ensure the contract looked legitimate.

“When we are talking about the contract, as an instrument, it resulted into the money being funded from Namcor, paid out to Enercon subsequent to that it was distributed and laundered and paid to other people,” he said.

The investigative officer claimed his job is to gather evidence, and it is the duty of the prosecution team to provide the list of charges based on the evidence the ACC presented.

This is after defence lawyer Sisa Namandje argued that directors of companies cannot be arrested for the crimes of their companies.
Namandje claimed the state does not have enough evidence against his clients.

FREE ON BAIL

Connie van Wyk, who served as Enercon chief executive, was granted bail in an amount of N$50 000 on Friday.

Van Wyk and Lydia Elindi, wife of businessman and co-accused Malakia Elindi who was also granted bail of N$50 000 on 25 July, are the only two of 11 accused who have been granted bail.

The two are set to return to court on 25 August and have to report to the ACC every Tuesday and Friday.

Van Wyk was arrested on 28 July alongside Austin Elindi (31), whose father and former Enercon director Peter Elindi is also an accused in the matter.

Those arrested include former Namcor managing director Mulunga, former Namcor finance executive Jennifer Hamukwaya and her husband Panduleni, former Namcor supply chain and logistics executive Cedric Willemse and former Namcor commercial trading manager Olivia Dunaiski.

Former Enercon directors Peter and Malakia, Malakia’s wife, Lydia, Peter’s son, Austin, Van Wyk and Erongo Fuel owner Leo Nandago have also been arrested. Fugitive Victor Malima is a person of interest in the case.

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