Bampton out of prison, but not out of trouble

FORMER employees of convicted fraudster Ignatius Bampton claim that they helped to get him released on parole in a bid to recover their outstanding wages.

John Kustaa, chief executive and overall project chairman of the former workers’ committee, told The Namibian that the workers applied to the Parole Board on behalf of Bampton after he agreed to sell a building to raise funds for their outstanding wages. They claim that Bampton owe around 200 of them N$100 000 in outstanding salaries for the months of March to June 1996.Bampton of Alba Constructions was arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail for his part in the N$12 million fraud and bribery trial surrounding the Katutura Single Quarters upgrading project between 1993 and 1996.Bampton’s former employees got a court order to sell the building, worth about N$48 000.Kustaa said they have scheduled a meeting on November 19 with the Office of the Labour Commissioner, which will also be attended by Bampton.At the meeting the Office of the Labour Commissioner will work out exactly how much Bampton owes each employee and how the money recovered from the sale of the building can be divided among them.In 1996, the Government, through the Office of the Labour Commissioner, paid out the retrenchment packages of the former employees.However, this only covered their accrued leave, notice pay and severance pay and not their outstanding salaries.They were told that the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing was only responsible for the above benefits and not the outstanding wages.They claim that Bampton owe around 200 of them N$100 000 in outstanding salaries for the months of March to June 1996.Bampton of Alba Constructions was arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail for his part in the N$12 million fraud and bribery trial surrounding the Katutura Single Quarters upgrading project between 1993 and 1996.Bampton’s former employees got a court order to sell the building, worth about N$48 000.Kustaa said they have scheduled a meeting on November 19 with the Office of the Labour Commissioner, which will also be attended by Bampton.At the meeting the Office of the Labour Commissioner will work out exactly how much Bampton owes each employee and how the money recovered from the sale of the building can be divided among them.In 1996, the Government, through the Office of the Labour Commissioner, paid out the retrenchment packages of the former employees.However, this only covered their accrued leave, notice pay and severance pay and not their outstanding salaries.They were told that the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing was only responsible for the above benefits and not the outstanding wages.