Curtains return to haunt Katrina

HARDAP Regional Governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday.
Hanse-Himarwa was taken into custody at around 11h00 at her office at Mariental.

Shortly after the arrest, Hanse-Himarwa appeared before Magistrate Anna Matroos at the Mariental Magistrate’s Court on two counts of alleged corruption.The Governor’s case was postponed to June 25, when a trial date will be set. She was granted bail of N$2 000. The charges include alleged use of office for gratification, or alternatively theft under false pretences, and allegedly soliciting gratification as a reward for curtains done, or alternatively alleged bribery of a public officer. The first charge relates to N$2 000 Hanse-Himarwa allegedly appropriated from the Hardap Regional Council entertainment budget under false pretences to allegedly throw a Christmas party for the elderly at Aranos in December 2005.The second charge relates to N$3 290 she allegedly solicited illegally for the sewing of curtains for her official residence. When approached, Hanse-Himarwa said she was in the process of getting legal representation to challenge the charges against her. The Governor said she paid for the curtains from her furniture budget, and it was her prerogative to use her entertainment allowance as she wished. luqman@namibian.com.na