Namugongo set to face 46 charges

Namugongo set to face 46 charges

SENIOR Environment and Tourism Ministry official Sackey Namugongo should face 46 charges in the Windhoek Regional Court in connection with his alleged role in the corrupt sale of gambling licences, the Prosecutor General has decided.

Namugongo (55) was informed of the Prosecutor General’s decision when he made a sixth appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday following his arrest a year ago. Namugongo was arrested on three charges – counts of corruption, fraud and forgery – on September 17 last year.At his last appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on August 29, his lawyer, Titus Mbaeva, tried to force the State to withdraw the charges because the Prosecutor General’s decision on the case against Namugongo was not yet available.Mbaeva’s attempt failed, and when Namugongo returned to court yesterday, he was informed that not only has the PG decided to continue to prosecute him, but has decided to increase the charges against him to a total of 46 counts.These include 24 charges of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act in which it is alleged that he had corruptly used his office or position for gratification, 19 alternative charges of theft under the corruption charges, and 22 counts of fraud, alternatively forgery and uttering.The theft charges involve a total amount of N$345 200 that Namugongo is alleged to have stolen from a total of 17 people.According to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which investigated the case against Namugongo and arrested him, Namugongo was arrested as a result of suspicions that he had been selling gambling licences for thousands of Namibia dollars each.The alleged offences are claimed to have been committed between March and September last year.Namugongo was employed as a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at the time.He was suspended following his arrest, but returned to work in early June this year after his suspension had been lifted.However he was shifted to a different position in the Ministry.With his appearance before Magistrate Sarel Jacobs yesterday, he was told that he has to make a first appearance in the Regional Court on November 9.At the request of Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo, the Magistrate also warned Namugongo not to interfere with 35 possible prosecution witnesses in his case before the matter has been finalised.These witnesses include the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Willem Konjore, and the former Permanent Secretary in the Environment Ministry, Malan Lindeque.Namugongo was arrested on three charges – counts of corruption, fraud and forgery – on September 17 last year.At his last appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on August 29, his lawyer, Titus Mbaeva, tried to force the State to withdraw the charges because the Prosecutor General’s decision on the case against Namugongo was not yet available. Mbaeva’s attempt failed, and when Namugongo returned to court yesterday, he was informed that not only has the PG decided to continue to prosecute him, but has decided to increase the charges against him to a total of 46 counts.These include 24 charges of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act in which it is alleged that he had corruptly used his office or position for gratification, 19 alternative charges of theft under the corruption charges, and 22 counts of fraud, alternatively forgery and uttering.The theft charges involve a total amount of N$345 200 that Namugongo is alleged to have stolen from a total of 17 people.According to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which investigated the case against Namugongo and arrested him, Namugongo was arrested as a result of suspicions that he had been selling gambling licences for thousands of Namibia dollars each.The alleged offences are claimed to have been committed between March and September last year.Namugongo was employed as a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at the time.He was suspended following his arrest, but returned to work in early June this year after his suspension had been lifted.However he was shifted to a different position in the Ministry.With his appearance before Magistrate Sarel Jacobs yesterday, he was told that he has to make a first appearance in the Regional Court on November 9.At the request of Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo, the Magistrate also warned Namugongo not to interfere with 35 possible prosecution witnesses in his case before the matter has been finalised.These witnesses include the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Willem Konjore, and the former Permanent Secretary in the Environment Ministry, Malan Lindeque.

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