PM threatens suspected SSC embezzlers with both legal barrels

PEOPLE implicated in the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the Social Security Commission (SSC) could face both criminal and civil charges, according to a top Government official.

Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab told the National Assembly yesterday that Cabinet had resolved to carry out the recommendations of the 2002 Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the activities, management and operation of the SSC. “The implementation of these recommendations will entail the initiation of criminal prosecutions, civil action and possible amendments to certain provisions of identified legislation,” the premier said, without elaborating on precisely when the action would be taken.Gurirab was responding to questions by the Congress of Democrats’ Nora Schimming-Chase who, among others, wanted to know what punishment would be meted out to those found guilty by various commissions of inquiry.In 2002 the SSC became the subject of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry after a detailed audit implicated the State-owned welfare body’s then senior management and some board members in fraudulent activities.Later public hearings unravelled myriad irregularities, among them credit-card abuses, ambiguous tender award procedures, entertainment allowance abuses, shady investment deals and exorbitant paybacks.The commission’s final report was handed to President Sam Nujoma last May, but no action against the alleged “fraud culprits” has been forthcoming since then.Yesterday, the Prime Minister noted that although commissions of inquiry did not have prosecuting authority their work helped to bring about greater public awareness and positive changes in parastatals’ corporate and financial governance.Gurirab reminded the House that, after reports by the commissions of inquiry into TransNamib and Air Namibia in 2001, Government removed the two companies’ chief executive officers and dissolved their boards, while assets that had been irregularly alienated were recovered.”Government remains committed to eradicating the scourge of corruption, fraud and misappropriation of public funds,” he stressed.He then announced that consultations on the nomination and appointment of the director and deputy director of the new Anti-Corruption Commission had reached an advanced stage.”In the fullness of time the President, who nominates them, and Parliament, which appoints them, will be called upon to take decisions respectively,” Gurirab added.”The implementation of these recommendations will entail the initiation of criminal prosecutions, civil action and possible amendments to certain provisions of identified legislation,” the premier said, without elaborating on precisely when the action would be taken.Gurirab was responding to questions by the Congress of Democrats’ Nora Schimming-Chase who, among others, wanted to know what punishment would be meted out to those found guilty by various commissions of inquiry.In 2002 the SSC became the subject of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry after a detailed audit implicated the State-owned welfare body’s then senior management and some board members in fraudulent activities.Later public hearings unravelled myriad irregularities, among them credit-card abuses, ambiguous tender award procedures, entertainment allowance abuses, shady investment deals and exorbitant paybacks.The commission’s final report was handed to President Sam Nujoma last May, but no action against the alleged “fraud culprits” has been forthcoming since then.Yesterday, the Prime Minister noted that although commissions of inquiry did not have prosecuting authority their work helped to bring about greater public awareness and positive changes in parastatals’ corporate and financial governance.Gurirab reminded the House that, after reports by the commissions of inquiry into TransNamib and Air Namibia in 2001, Government removed the two companies’ chief executive officers and dissolved their boards, while assets that had been irregularly alienated were recovered.”Government remains committed to eradicating the scourge of corruption, fraud and misappropriation of public funds,” he stressed.He then announced that consultations on the nomination and appointment of the director and deputy director of the new Anti-Corruption Commission had reached an advanced stage.”In the fullness of time the President, who nominates them, and Parliament, which appoints them, will be called upon to take decisions respectively,” Gurirab added.