CORRUPTION-accused businessman James Hatuikulipi allegedly diverted N$2,1 million – meant to buy drought-relief fish – from the national fishing company to an entity he owns with former justice minister Sacky Shanghala.
This is according to documents, invoices and two individuals involved in the transaction. Documents show the money was transferred from the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) in 2016 and ended up at Mediva Holdings, which is allegedly co-owned by Hatuikulipi, Shanghala.
Lawyer Gilroy Kasper, who represents Hatuikulipi in the Fishrot corruption case, earlier this week declined to comment.
“Ask him [Hatuikulipi],” he said.
Documents seen by show that Hatuikulipi, the former chairperson of Fishcor, was instrumental in the payment of these funds into the Mediva Holdings’ account.
The money was transferred into Mediva Holdings’ bank account from Flamingo In-Flight Catering – a company owned by Hatuikulipi and former minister of justice Sacky Shanghala.
“I was informed and shown by ACC officers that the N$3,1 million was paid to Flamingo In-Flight Catering, in which James Hatuikulipi has an interest, and N$2,1 million was paid on 18 July 2016 to Mediva, and N$1 million to Greyguard,” Phillipus Mwapopi told the ACC last year.
Mwapopi is one of the Fishrot-accused and is currently in prison awaiting trial.
He owns Wanakadu, which was allegedly used to channel money from Fischor.
The transaction commenced on 15 June 2016, when Wanakadu Investments provided Fishcor with a N$4,1 million quotation to supply the parastatal with drought-relief fish.
The quotation was to supply Fishcor with 173 bags of dried fish, 200 bags of dried kingklip bones, and 150 bags of dried hake heads.
Fishcor’s former chief executive officer (CEO), Mike Nghipunya, approved the deal on 30 June 2016.
“I am pleased to inform you that your quotation submitted to us for the supply of dried fish products for drought relief has been approved.
“You should provide us with an invoice for payment at your earliest convenience,” Nghipunya wrote to Mwapopi.
Mwapopi admitted to the ACC he did not deliver the products himself.
“Me and the CEO, Mr Mike Nghipunya, arranged that Fishcor will pick up the products at Karibib. A friend facilitated this for me. The products were picked up at Karibib, but I was not present,” he said.
Fishcor employee Carolina Brendell last year told the ACC she did not know whether the fish was delivered.
“I was not personally involved, since it was earmarked for government objectives, which are always handled by the office of the CEO. Before signing the delivery note, I confirmed with the CEO, who indeed assured me of the products being delivered,” she said.
Mwapopi said the ACC told him the fish products were not delivered.
Instead, Wanakadu paid N$3,1 million to Flamingo In-Flight catering, according to the ACC documents.
Flamingo In-Flight Catering’s co-owner, Leevi Hungamo, told in April the money was transferred from the company 24 hours later.
Hungamo, a former National Planning Commission permanent secretary, explained that at the time, Hatuikulipi allegedly gave instructions to move the money immediately, because it was paid into Flamingo In-Flight Catering’s account by ‘accident’.
“Bank statements confirm the money was transferred from the company the following day,” Hungamo said.
The N$2,1 million was moved into a company called Mediva, while the other N$1 million was paid to Greyguard Investments, which is owned by Hatuikulipi, according to the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa).
The other N$1 million remained in the bank account of Mwapopi’s Wanakadu Investments.
It’s unclear whether the fish was eventually delivered to assist 729 000 vulnerable households from May 2016 to March 2017.
Opuwo Urban Constituency councillor Ueutjerevi Ngunaihe last month said the money could have been used to develop projects to feed people in the Kunene region.
He said drought is serious and the situation is exacerbated by the influx of Angolans into the region.
