ACC takes nepotism suspects to task in court

TWO officers of the Namibian Police made their first court appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Elsie Schickerling yesterday.

Warrant Officers Susanna Hamata and Alex Lazazi were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission on charges of corruption after investigations by the commission revealed that the two were allegedly recruiting their relatives without following the proper recruitment procedures. According to ACC Director Paulus Noa, several complaints about the two had been received and the Police assisted in the investigation.”When investigations were carried out the ACC requested a list of all candidates who had applied for the vacant posts [in the Police] and it was established that two newly recruited employees’ names were not even on the list and they were family members of the two officers,” Noa said.”Instead of recruiting candidates who were screened and shortlisted, they decided to replace the successful candidates with their relatives who were not even shortlisted,” he said.Hamata and Lazazi were each granted bail of N$3 000 and the case was postponed to August 20 for further investigations and to allow the two to apply for legal representation.According to ACC Director Paulus Noa, several complaints about the two had been received and the Police assisted in the investigation.”When investigations were carried out the ACC requested a list of all candidates who had applied for the vacant posts [in the Police] and it was established that two newly recruited employees’ names were not even on the list and they were family members of the two officers,” Noa said. “Instead of recruiting candidates who were screened and shortlisted, they decided to replace the successful candidates with their relatives who were not even shortlisted,” he said.Hamata and Lazazi were each granted bail of N$3 000 and the case was postponed to August 20 for further investigations and to allow the two to apply for legal representation.