Suspended Otji officials still not charged

FOUR months after the Otjiwarongo Municipality suspended its Town Clerk and Treasurer, no formal charges have yet been laid against them.

Mayor Otto Ipinge said police investigations were still continuing and had progressed rather slowly. “We are still checking what went wrong and where,” Ipinge said.Once the Police investigation was done, a recommendation would be made to the Town Council.Town Clerk Paulus Haipare and Treasurer Immanuel Kaundje were suspended at an extra-ordinary meeting in February this year.Both denied any wrongdoing.Kaundje reportedly handed in his resignation letter a few minutes before the Council resolved to suspend him.Sources said Police Commercial Branch had completed its investigation and provided a report to the Municipality.They said the Council’s leadership met the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing in Windhoek and was thereafter seen at the Otjiwarongo Police Station.They suspected that Ipinge and his team were finalising the charges.Ipinge said he was not aware of that.Another source said the Council informed some employees last Friday that the Police report was ready and that charges were to be finalised.Initially sources said that, according to some claims, the two had allegedly received kickbacks for municipal investments they had awarded; others claimed they had allegedly misappropriated money.Haipare said he had no idea about the nature of the charges but his lawyers were ready to act on instructions.Kaundje said he resigned because he had another job.He said the kickback allegation had come up earlier and had been discussed at a Swapo meeting where the allegations were found to be false.”We are still checking what went wrong and where,” Ipinge said.Once the Police investigation was done, a recommendation would be made to the Town Council.Town Clerk Paulus Haipare and Treasurer Immanuel Kaundje were suspended at an extra-ordinary meeting in February this year.Both denied any wrongdoing.Kaundje reportedly handed in his resignation letter a few minutes before the Council resolved to suspend him.Sources said Police Commercial Branch had completed its investigation and provided a report to the Municipality.They said the Council’s leadership met the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing in Windhoek and was thereafter seen at the Otjiwarongo Police Station.They suspected that Ipinge and his team were finalising the charges.Ipinge said he was not aware of that.Another source said the Council informed some employees last Friday that the Police report was ready and that charges were to be finalised.Initially sources said that, according to some claims, the two had allegedly received kickbacks for municipal investments they had awarded; others claimed they had allegedly misappropriated money.Haipare said he had no idea about the nature of the charges but his lawyers were ready to act on instructions.Kaundje said he resigned because he had another job.He said the kickback allegation had come up earlier and had been discussed at a Swapo meeting where the allegations were found to be false.