The wife of Swapo member of parliament (MP) Modestus Amutse has appealed to the Oshakati High Court to have a vehicle in which she was found transporting illegal fuel from Angola released by the state.
According to court documents, Eveline Amutse (49) was found driving a Toyota Land Cruiser loaded with ten 25-litre containers of illegal fuel on 7 February last year near Oshiteyatemo village in Omusati region.
The fuel was worth N$16 000.
When the matter was heard in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court, magistrate Hafeni Kashihakumwa ordered that the vehicle be forfeited to the state.
The vehicle is detained at Onandjaba Police Station and booked as an exhibit.
However, in her appeal, Amutse claims the magistrate failed to properly and fully consider the evidence given by her husband in court.
Court documents show that the vehicle in question is registered under Modestus’ name.
He, however, told the court the vehicle belongs to a company called Joshi Investment, in which he is a shareholder.
He said the vehicle was bought for about N$1 million.
Modestus informed the court that the vehicle is normally stationed at his residence.
He also said his wife lacked his or Joshi Investment’s consent when she used the car on the day she was arrested.
“When the vehicle was acquired, the shareholders knew I was married, and they also knew there would be a time my wife would use the car in certain circumstances when there was consent,” Modestus said.
During mitigation, the court was informed that Eveline works as a driver and gets an income of N$4 000 per month.
She has children aged between six and 23 years, the court was told.
On 7 September last year, Eveline was sentenced to a fine of N$16 000 or 18 months’ imprisonment.
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