SWAKOPMUND – The long arm of the law has finally caught up with an employee of The Henties Bay municipality, John Scholtz when he was finally charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission for the dubious sale of two plots at the town dating back to 2008. Scholtz who appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court last month, was only warned and is expected to be back in court in February 28 this year. Scholtz was suspended on June 14, 2012 with full pay by council after the dubious sale of the two plots, valued at N$75 820 and N$72 250, which he sold by means of private treaty to Lineekela Kalimba. Kalimba who spotted an advertisement for the erven in the local media approached council for answers, which led to the discovery of the shady deal and the suspension of Scholtz.
Although Scholtz was arrested in June 2012, council only laid a complained during November last year with the ACC. A lengthy investigation followed which saw Scholtz enjoying his full pay for almost a year and a half. During his arrest Scholtz served as the Head of Department for Corporate Services, Economic Development and Urban Management.
In a statement issued last week Thursday, the ACC indicated that Scholtz was arraigned on two charges of contravening section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Act No. 8 of 2003 (corruptly using office or position for gratification) and alternatively contravention of section 35(3) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act (Corruptly using a false document by an agent). During his suspension in 2012, the chairperson of the Management Committee of Hentiesbay Michale Skinni told New Era that although Scholtz allegedly sold the two plots, neither the transaction nor the N$15 000 deposit paid by Kalimba could be traced by the council. According to Skini, Kalimba also claimed that none of the councils’ administrative staff contacted her when she made the required N$15 000 deposit needed to secure the sale. It is also believed that a sales agreement was sent to her thereafter, without the council’s knowledge. During 2012 it was also detected by the staff in the Town Planning and Property Administration section that the two plots had been registered under two different names that of Kalimba and that of a friend of Scholtz.
The friend was identified as Jan Chris Slippers by the ACC last week Thursday. Allegations are also that Scholtz tried to cover up his tracks by requesting the town planner to refer any calls or communication regarding the plots to his office. It later surfaced that he promised Kalimba two plots in a new extension. An internal investigation allegedly indicated that council did not approve, repossess or sell any plots to the new owners. No proof of ministerial approval or indications of any deposit for the plots were found. The files containing the information could also not be found in the registries, which were apparently in Scholtz’s office, during his suspension in 2012.
By Eveline de Klerk