Namugongo to deny corruption charges in Regional Court today

THE corruption trial of Ministry of Environment and Tourism official Sackey Namugongo is scheduled to begin in the Windhoek Regional Court today, after its start was delayed by a day yesterday.

Namugongo (56) appeared in the dock before Windhoek Regional Court Magistrate Sarel Jacobs yesterday, to explain to the court why he failed to appear before the Magistrate last Tuesday and to hear that his trial would now be kicking off today. Namugongo was arrested by investigators from the Anti-Corruption Commission on corruption, fraud and forgery and uttering charges on September 17 2006.Those charges resulted from his alleged involvement in the claimed illegal sale of fake Namibian gambling licences.The charges against Namugongo ballooned to a total of 46 counts by late September last year, when Namugongo was informed that the Prosecutor-General had decided to arraign him in the Regional Court on 46 charges in total.These include 24 counts of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act, based on allegations that Namugongo had corruptly used his office or position in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism 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 between March and September 2006.Namugongo’s lawyer, Titus Mbaeva, told The Namibian on enquiry yesterday that Namugongo would be pleading not guilty “to most of the charges, if not all”.When Namugongo failed to show up in court last week, a warrant was issued for his arrest and his bail was provisionally withdrawn and forfeited to the State.Mbaeva told the Magistrate yesterday that Namugongo was not in court because he had to attend a meeting at Walvis Bay.An arrangement that his trial would be starting only yesterday also caused some confusion, the court was told.Magistrate Jacobs accepted the explanation and reinstated Namugongo’s bail of N$20 000.Deputy Prosecutor-General Orben Sibeya is set to represent the State during the trial.Namugongo was arrested by investigators from the Anti-Corruption Commission on corruption, fraud and forgery and uttering charges on September 17 2006.Those charges resulted from his alleged involvement in the claimed illegal sale of fake Namibian gambling licences.The charges against Namugongo ballooned to a total of 46 counts by late September last year, when Namugongo was informed that the Prosecutor-General had decided to arraign him in the Regional Court on 46 charges in total.These include 24 counts of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act, based on allegations that Namugongo had corruptly used his office or position in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism 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 between March and September 2006.Namugongo’s lawyer, Titus Mbaeva, told The Namibian on enquiry yesterday that Namugongo would be pleading not guilty “to most of the charges, if not all”.When Namugongo failed to show up in court last week, a warrant was issued for his arrest and his bail was provisionally withdrawn and forfeited to the State.Mbaeva told the Magistrate yesterday that Namugongo was not in court because he had to attend a meeting at Walvis Bay.An arrangement that his trial would be starting only yesterday also caused some confusion, the court was told.Magistrate Jacobs accepted the explanation and reinstated Namugongo’s bail of N$20 000.Deputy Prosecutor-General Orben Sibeya is set to represent the State during the trial.