Lying public officials must face music: MP

THE opposition yesterday upped the pressure on Government to act against public and political officials found to have lied in recent court proceedings – most notably during the Social Security-Avid High Court inquiry and a money claim against the Offshore Development Company (ODC).

The Congress of Democrats’ Vice President, Nora Schimming-Chase, yesterday asked the Minister of Justice and Attorney General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana if and when she planned to take action against those who gave false information to the court during these proceedings. Schimming-Chase made special reference to remarks made by Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote at the conclusion of the Companies Act inquiry into the SSC’s N$30 million investment with the liquidated investment company Avid.Heathcote noted that some of those called to testify had not been honest with the court.Axed former Deputy Minister of Works Paulus Kapia was among the political officials who appeared to have lied to the court.A report by Heathcote on the inquiry, in which he indicated that perjury charges could be pursued, is currently with the Prosecutor General’s office awaiting a decision.The Attorney General is responsible for the Prosecutor General’s office.Last month, Heathcote – acting as advocate for information technology company Silnam – told the High Court that conflicting information provided to the court in affidavits by Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Andrew Ndishishi in defence of the ODC indicated that he was a “serial perjurer”.Silnam succeeded in getting the ODC to agree to repay it N$7 million that Silnam had transferred to the ODC for investment.This was despite Ndishishi denying in one affidavit that he had ever received the money, and in another affidavit in another case instigated by the ODC, admitting that it had in fact taken Silnam’s money for further investment.Next week, Iivula-Ithana is expected to tell the National Assembly what legal steps, if any, have been taken against Ndishishi and others.If no charges have been laid against them, Iivula-Ithana will have to tell parliamentarians why this has not happened and whether there are any plans to do so.Schimming-Chase made special reference to remarks made by Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote at the conclusion of the Companies Act inquiry into the SSC’s N$30 million investment with the liquidated investment company Avid.Heathcote noted that some of those called to testify had not been honest with the court.Axed former Deputy Minister of Works Paulus Kapia was among the political officials who appeared to have lied to the court.A report by Heathcote on the inquiry, in which he indicated that perjury charges could be pursued, is currently with the Prosecutor General’s office awaiting a decision.The Attorney General is responsible for the Prosecutor General’s office.Last month, Heathcote – acting as advocate for information technology company Silnam – told the High Court that conflicting information provided to the court in affidavits by Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Andrew Ndishishi in defence of the ODC indicated that he was a “serial perjurer”.Silnam succeeded in getting the ODC to agree to repay it N$7 million that Silnam had transferred to the ODC for investment.This was despite Ndishishi denying in one affidavit that he had ever received the money, and in another affidavit in another case instigated by the ODC, admitting that it had in fact taken Silnam’s money for further investment.Next week, Iivula-Ithana is expected to tell the National Assembly what legal steps, if any, have been taken against Ndishishi and others.If no charges have been laid against them, Iivula-Ithana will have to tell parliamentarians why this has not happened and whether there are any plans to do so.