No dropping of charges against Namugongo

AN attempt by corruption suspect Sackey Namugongo to get charges that have been pending against him for close to a year dropped has failed.

Namugongo, who is a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, made a sixth appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption, fraud, forgery and uttering yesterday. He was arrested at Hosea Kutako International Airport outside Windhoek on September 17 last year as he returned to Namibia following a visit to South Africa.According to the Anti-Corruption Commission, Namugongo was arrested on suspicion that he had been selling gambling licences for thousands of Namibia dollars each.As much as N$1 million may have been paid for such illegal and fake licences in the three months prior to his arrest, it was reported at the time of his arrest.Namugongo’ s latest court appearance was kicked off with Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo asking Magistrate Sarel Jacobs to postpone the case again for some three weeks, as the Prosecutor General’s decision on prosecuting Namugongo was not yet available.Sikongo told the Magistrate that the case could be postponed for a final time for the PG’s decision to be made available.Namugongo’s lawyer, Titus Mbaeva, responded that he had “firm instructions” from his client to oppose any further postponement.Not only is the case against Namugongo almost a year old already, but Namugongo also has to adhere to some “very, very strict” bail conditions while the charges against him remain pending, Mbaeva said.He told the Magistrate that Namugongo has to report to the Police twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday.Given his position in the public service, Namugongo has to travel a lot, and the bail conditions are making this difficult for him, Mbaeva added.In fact, Namugongo’s bail conditions were already relaxed in early March to require him to report to the Police only once a week on Friday.Mbaeva asked Magistrate Jacobs to have the case against Namugongo withdrawn provisionally, or else to relax the bail conditions.The Magistrate turned down the request.Namugongo now has to appear in court again on September 24.After being suspended from his post in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism following his arrest, he was allowed to return to work in early June.He was moved to a different part of the Ministry at that stage.Namugongo has filed a case with the High Court in an attempt to put a stop to an internal disciplinary hearing that he is facing at the Ministry in addition to the criminal case.His case about the disciplinary hearing is also still pending in the High Court.Namugongo remains free on bail of N$20 000.He was arrested at Hosea Kutako International Airport outside Windhoek on September 17 last year as he returned to Namibia following a visit to South Africa.According to the Anti-Corruption Commission, Namugongo was arrested on suspicion that he had been selling gambling licences for thousands of Namibia dollars each.As much as N$1 million may have been paid for such illegal and fake licences in the three months prior to his arrest, it was reported at the time of his arrest.Namugongo’ s latest court appearance was kicked off with Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo asking Magistrate Sarel Jacobs to postpone the case again for some three weeks, as the Prosecutor General’s decision on prosecuting Namugongo was not yet available.Sikongo told the Magistrate that the case could be postponed for a final time for the PG’s decision to be made available.Namugongo’s lawyer, Titus Mbaeva, responded that he had “firm instructions” from his client to oppose any further postponement.Not only is the case against Namugongo almost a year old already, but Namugongo also has to adhere to some “very, very strict” bail conditions while the charges against him remain pending, Mbaeva said.He told the Magistrate that Namugongo has to report to the Police twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday.Given his position in the public service, Namugongo has to travel a lot, and the bail conditions are making this difficult for him, Mbaeva added.In fact, Namugongo’s bail conditions were already relaxed in early March to require him to report to the Police only once a week on Friday.Mbaeva asked Magistrate Jacobs to have the case against Namugongo withdrawn provisionally, or else to relax the bail conditions.The Magistrate turned down the request.Namugongo now has to appear in court again on September 24.After being suspended from his post in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism following his arrest, he was allowed to return to work in early June.He was moved to a different part of the Ministry at that stage.Namugongo has filed a case with the High Court in an attempt to put a stop to an internal disciplinary hearing that he is facing at the Ministry in addition to the criminal case.His case about the disciplinary hearing is also still pending in the High Court.Namugongo remains free on bail of N$20 000.