Salmaan threatens council with legal action

KARAS Regional Council Chief Regional Officer Salmaan Jacobs, embroiled in charges of alleged fraud, is claiming constructive dismissal and has threatened legal action if the Ministry of Local Government fails to intervene swiftly.

In a letter to Local Government Permanent Secretary, Erastus Negonga, seen by The Namibian, Jacobs claims Council has prevented him from performing his normal duties by changing the locks on his office door. In addition, he claims that Council deliberately stopped him from attending a Transfrontier Conservation Areas Planning Workshop in Kempton Park, South Africa.”It would be appreciated if the Ministry of Local Government could intervene and inform me whether these steps have been taken after consultations, whether or not the changing of the locks can be construed as constructive dismissal, whether they can avert possible legal action and try to find an amicable solution,” Jacobs said.According to Jacobs, Council failed to provide any reasons for these actions, which followed his recent arrest on corruption charges.He was later released on bail of N$7 000.Jacobs is accused of defrauding the Council of close to N$32 000 after he claimed N$49 020 in extra expenses for attending a month-long, all-expenses-paid workshop in Germany.Negonga reacted to Jacob’s claims yesterday in a letter to the Council.In it, he requests Council to shed light on the chief regional officer’s complaint.Meanwhile, The Namibian has learnt that Council has enlisted the services of a lawyer to compile charges against Jacobs with an eye to suspending him.Since his arrest, Jacobs’s suspension was on cards.However, Council wanted to ascertain that they are in the legal frame work before giving Jacobs the boot, The Namibian was informed.In addition, he claims that Council deliberately stopped him from attending a Transfrontier Conservation Areas Planning Workshop in Kempton Park, South Africa.”It would be appreciated if the Ministry of Local Government could intervene and inform me whether these steps have been taken after consultations, whether or not the changing of the locks can be construed as constructive dismissal, whether they can avert possible legal action and try to find an amicable solution,” Jacobs said.According to Jacobs, Council failed to provide any reasons for these actions, which followed his recent arrest on corruption charges.He was later released on bail of N$7 000.Jacobs is accused of defrauding the Council of close to N$32 000 after he claimed N$49 020 in extra expenses for attending a month-long, all-expenses-paid workshop in Germany.Negonga reacted to Jacob’s claims yesterday in a letter to the Council.In it, he requests Council to shed light on the chief regional officer’s complaint.Meanwhile, The Namibian has learnt that Council has enlisted the services of a lawyer to compile charges against Jacobs with an eye to suspending him.Since his arrest, Jacobs’s suspension was on cards.However, Council wanted to ascertain that they are in the legal frame work before giving Jacobs the boot, The Namibian was informed.