National Assembly Secretary back at work

THE Secretary to the National Assembly, Nama Goabab, is back at work after he was arrested earlier this month on a charge of fraud relating to a vehicle allowance.

Goabab and a senior accountant at Parliament, Abraham John George, were arrested on Friday, June 8, for the same alleged offence. Goabab was granted bail on Saturday, June 9 after bringing an urgent application in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.Although Magistrate Clement Daniels granted Goabab bail of N$5 000, he attached stringent bail conditions, which were reduced by another magistrate on Monday, June 11.Magistrate Daniels originally instructed Goabab not to enter the premises of the National Assembly until the investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was completed.He was also ordered not to interfere with the investigation or to contact any staff at the National Assembly without the permission of the ACC’s chief of investigation and prosecution, Nelius Becker.Magistrate Helvi Shilemba on June 11 allowed Goabab to return to the office, but he may not contact any of the potential witnesses.ACC Director Paulus Noa told The Namibian at the end of last week that the ACC was “not very happy” about the relaxed bail conditions.ACC staff had already removed material believed to be evidence from Goabab’s office immediately after his arrest, Noa added.Staff members at the National Assembly find it strange that Goabab is back at work, however.”It is an uncomfortable situation,” a staff member told The Namibian yesterday.”How can we who are witnesses in this case avoid contact with Goabab when you see him walk up and down the corridors staircase?”Goabab was granted bail on Saturday, June 9 after bringing an urgent application in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.Although Magistrate Clement Daniels granted Goabab bail of N$5 000, he attached stringent bail conditions, which were reduced by another magistrate on Monday, June 11.Magistrate Daniels originally instructed Goabab not to enter the premises of the National Assembly until the investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was completed.He was also ordered not to interfere with the investigation or to contact any staff at the National Assembly without the permission of the ACC’s chief of investigation and prosecution, Nelius Becker.Magistrate Helvi Shilemba on June 11 allowed Goabab to return to the office, but he may not contact any of the potential witnesses.ACC Director Paulus Noa told The Namibian at the end of last week that the ACC was “not very happy” about the relaxed bail conditions.ACC staff had already removed material believed to be evidence from Goabab’s office immediately after his arrest, Noa added.Staff members at the National Assembly find it strange that Goabab is back at work, however.”It is an uncomfortable situation,” a staff member told The Namibian yesterday.”How can we who are witnesses in this case avoid contact with Goabab when you see him walk up and down the corridors staircase?”