THE Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development won’t act against alleged corrupt officials unless a municipality asks it to intervene.
Erastus Negonga, the Permanent Secretary (PS) in this ministry, yesterday afternoon said they don’t intend to launch a probe into the criminal prosecution of the town’s CEO, Nicodemus Gaeseb, its human corporate affairs and human resources officer, Eben Xoagub, and the housing and property officer, Daniel Geiseb. The trio and Xoagub’s wife, Belinda Xoagus, her brother, Jeremias Kheimseb, Isaskar Ganeb, Elrey Esau and Reverend Barry Goamub were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) last week after allegedly concocting a fictitious tender.It is alleged that this was done to cover up a cash shortage at the local post office where Xoagus was the postmaster.The missing money allegedly amounts to about N$400 000.It is understood that the three council employees have returned to their offices after being released on bail.This has reportedly irked fellow employees as well as Khorixas residents.Negonga yesterday said he only read about the alleged corruption in the media and ‘cannot comment on something I have no idea about’.When approached for comment, Gaeseb warned The Namibian never to contact him again. ‘I am telling you – stay far away from me to be on the safe side. Let this be the last time that you ever contact me on my private number again,’ he said before slamming down the phone.Ganeb owns Sipho Roads Construction and Security Services, while Esau is the owner of Khori Enterprise and the pastor owns Goamub Quick Security Services.The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) claims that during April 2011 a fictitious construction tender for the supply of bricks to the Khorixas Town Council was issued.It is further alleged that the subsequent payments generated were used to cover up deficits that arose at Nampost Khorixas involving Xoagus.Following the ACC probe, the docket was forwarded to the Prosecutor General (PG), who decided that Xoagub should face five charges of corruption, five of fraud and two of money laundering, Gaeseb and Geiseb two charges of corruption each, Kheimseb four counts of fraud, Ganeb one count of fraud and Xoagus two of money laundering and three of fraud.The PG decided that Esau and Goamub must be charged with one charge of corruption each.The accused were arrested in Khorixas between October 4 and 5 and made a first appearance in the town’s magistrate’s court on Thursday.Their trial will take place in the Khorixas Regional Court, where they have to appear on November 1 this year.Esau and Reverend Goamub were granted bail of N$30 000, while their six co-accused were granted bail of N$70 000 each.
