Corruption two-step deals double blow to official

A MINISTRY of Environment and Tourism official, who was granted bail in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court at the end of last week after being arrested on charges of bribery and corruption, was back in the dock on another corruption charge in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Uaaka Tueutjiua (36), who is a Senior Ranger in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Otjiwarongo, remains in Police custody following his court appearance before Magistrate Rina Horn yesterday. Tueutjiua was arrested on charges of bribery and corruption on Friday, after he had allegedly solicited a bribe from a farmer in the Otavi area and then used a Government vehicle to go and collect the alleged bribe – a hunted kudu – from the farmer.The Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Noa, told The Namibian yesterday that it is alleged that Tueutjiua had solicited a bribe from a farmer who wanted to be granted a hunting permit.The ACC was informed about this, and a sting operation was set up that ended in Tueutjiua being caught “red-handed” after accepting the kudu from the farmer, it is claimed.According to Noa, Tueutjiua drove 135 kilometres from Otjiwarongo in a Government vehicle to collect the kudu that he is claimed to have demanded from the farmer.It is alleged that he did not have the necessary authorisation to use the vehicle for that trip, Noa said.Tueutjiua appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on the same day as his arrest, and was released on bail of N$3 000.Four days later, he was again under arrest.In the second case, he was arrested in Windhoek after he had allegedly used the same Government vehicle involved in the incident on Friday, again without the necessary official authorisation, to travel from Otjiwarongo to Windhoek, Noa said.After his second arrest, Tueutjiua is also facing a charge of contravening the section of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2003 that prohibits a public official from corruptly using his or her office or position to obtain a gratification.Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo told Magistrate Horn that the State is at this stage objecting to bail being granted to Tueutjiua, because it is feared that he may interfere with the investigation of the case.Lawyer Edwin Coetzee, who represented Tueutjiua during yesterday’s court appearance, told the Magistrate that a formal application for his client’s release on bail would be brought to court either today or on Monday, or as soon as a Magistrate was available to hear the case.The Magistrate postponed the case to February 29 for further investigation, and added that this is the final postponement of the matter for that purpose.Tueutjiua was arrested on charges of bribery and corruption on Friday, after he had allegedly solicited a bribe from a farmer in the Otavi area and then used a Government vehicle to go and collect the alleged bribe – a hunted kudu – from the farmer.The Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Noa, told The Namibian yesterday that it is alleged that Tueutjiua had solicited a bribe from a farmer who wanted to be granted a hunting permit.The ACC was informed about this, and a sting operation was set up that ended in Tueutjiua being caught “red-handed” after accepting the kudu from the farmer, it is claimed.According to Noa, Tueutjiua drove 135 kilometres from Otjiwarongo in a Government vehicle to collect the kudu that he is claimed to have demanded from the farmer.It is alleged that he did not have the necessary authorisation to use the vehicle for that trip, Noa said.Tueutjiua appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on the same day as his arrest, and was released on bail of N$3 000.Four days later, he was again under arrest.In the second case, he was arrested in Windhoek after he had allegedly used the same Government vehicle involved in the incident on Friday, again without the necessary official authorisation, to travel from Otjiwarongo to Windhoek, Noa said.After his second arrest, Tueutjiua is also facing a charge of contravening the section of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2003 that prohibits a public official from corruptly using his or her office or position to obtain a gratification.Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo told Magistrate Horn that the State is at this stage objecting to bail being granted to Tueutjiua, because it is feared that he may interfere with the investigation of the case.Lawyer Edwin Coetzee, who represented Tueutjiua during yesterday’s court appearance, told the Magistrate that a formal application for his client’s release on bail would be brought to court either today or on Monday, or as soon as a Magistrate was available to hear the case.The Magistrate postponed the case to February 29 for further investigation, and added that this is the final postponement of the matter for that purpose.