State House funds at centre of court row

THE President’s staff have been carrying around huge amounts of cash, sometimes up to N$1,5 million, to pay for electioneering and expenses related to trips inside and outside the country, according to documents filed with the High Court.

In a case that threatens to expose the handling of cash during President Sam Nujoma’s travels, two senior State House officials appear to have drawn the battle lines. Government attorneys, acting on behalf of the Office of the President and its chief administrator, Ndeutala Angolo, filed a summons with the the court last month demanding that Isaac Kaulinge, a former Presidential aide, pay back N$400 000 which he allegedly owes the State.The summons states that Kaulinge had acknowledged the debt in May 2002 as outstanding subsistence and travel allowances he had received.In an opposing affidavit, Kaulinge claims he was duped into signing a note acknowledging liability for the debt.He said Angolo had asked him to sign under the pretext that the note would be used as supporting material to the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts that money owed to Government was being recovered, but that he would not have to pay.Kaulinge said the money was used during the 1999 “electioneering campaign” and that he had handed receipts to Angolo.”Prior to proceeding on these trips, members of the President’s support staff – including myself – were handed substantial amounts of cash to pay for the costs incidental thereto on behalf of the President,” Kaulinge says in the affidavit.Kaulinge, who confirmed the lawsuit, said on inquiry that at times staff would carry more than N$1 million in cash, mostly in US dollars, on foreign trips.According to the affidavit, some of the money was used to pay for bodyguards’ expenses.In addition, the President instructed Kaulinge and other members of his support staff to buy food or other supplies for people attending meetings.”More often than not, this involved, especially in rural areas, purchases from cuca shops and, on occasion, even a goat or cattle to be slaughtered, from a member of the public.”Kaulinge said he returned receipts to Angolo, as chief administrator, and urged her to reclaim some of the money from the Ministries of Defence and Home Affairs, as well as Swapo “as it should be responsible for the electioneering costs of the President”.He said he was made to sign acknowledgement of debt “to avoid embarrassment to the President”.”It [the note] was intended for use by Dr Angolo to mislead the said parliamentary committee and to save the President embarrassment …”Kaulinge stands to lose his Government pension if the lawsuit is successful.He has called for an internal audit at State House “to establish the true position”.Angolo yesterday declined to comment on the court case because it was already with the lawyers.Comment could not be obtained from the Government Attorney.Government attorneys, acting on behalf of the Office of the President and its chief administrator, Ndeutala Angolo, filed a summons with the the court last month demanding that Isaac Kaulinge, a former Presidential aide, pay back N$400 000 which he allegedly owes the State.The summons states that Kaulinge had acknowledged the debt in May 2002 as outstanding subsistence and travel allowances he had received.In an opposing affidavit, Kaulinge claims he was duped into signing a note acknowledging liability for the debt.He said Angolo had asked him to sign under the pretext that the note would be used as supporting material to the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts that money owed to Government was being recovered, but that he would not have to pay.Kaulinge said the money was used during the 1999 “electioneering campaign” and that he had handed receipts to Angolo.”Prior to proceeding on these trips, members of the President’s support staff – including myself – were handed substantial amounts of cash to pay for the costs incidental thereto on behalf of the President,” Kaulinge says in the affidavit.Kaulinge, who confirmed the lawsuit, said on inquiry that at times staff would carry more than N$1 million in cash, mostly in US dollars, on foreign trips.According to the affidavit, some of the money was used to pay for bodyguards’ expenses.In addition, the President instructed Kaulinge and other members of his support staff to buy food or other supplies for people attending meetings.”More often than not, this involved, especially in rural areas, purchases from cuca shops and, on occasion, even a goat or cattle to be slaughtered, from a member of the public.”Kaulinge said he returned receipts to Angolo, as chief administrator, and urged her to reclaim some of the money from the Ministries of Defence and Home Affairs, as well as Swapo “as it should be responsible for the electioneering costs of the President”.He said he was made to sign acknowledgement of debt “to avoid embarrassment to the President”.”It [the note] was intended for use by Dr Angolo to mislead the said parliamentary committee and to save the President embarrassment …”Kaulinge stands to lose his Government pension if the lawsuit is successful.He has called for an internal audit at State House “to establish the true position”.Angolo yesterday declined to comment on the court case because it was already with the lawyers.Comment could not be obtained from the Government Attorney.