Iuze Mukube

Businesswoman Lydia Elindi on Wednesday declared in court that she has no intention of fleeing if granted bail, stating that her priority is to clear her name and restore her reputation.

Elindi, who is accused alongside her husband Malakia Elindi, was responding on one of the State’s grounds for objection to the nine accused being granted bail in the ongoing Namcor corruption case. 

The State has objected to granting bail to all the accused in the matter, citing risk of absconding and the likelihood of interference with the ongoing police investigations.

Elindi’s stance is that she will attend every court session and comply fully with all conditions if granted bail, as she of all people, has no reason to evade justice, especially as the allegations against her are false.

Lawyer Sisa Namandje, representing all the Elindis, said she has no prior convictions nor any pending criminal charges, has a fixed residence within the country and has no relatives outside Namibia.

Elindi is being charged with four counts, including dealing with, using, holding, receiving or concealing gratification; conspiracies; money laundering and an alternative of money laundering; possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities.

The court documents read that between 19 and 21 July 2022, Elindi entered a deal with Enercon representatives and received more than N$3.8 million which she obtained as gratification from the agreement between Enercon and Namcor for the purchase of nine service stations.

Additionally, she allegedly conspired with Malakia Elindi and Enercon’s representative to receive the N$3.8 million into the account of Onyeka Clearing and Forwarding CC, court documents states.

It further alleges that between 19-25 July 2022, Elindi ought to have known that the N$3.8 million received into the account of Onyeka from Enercon formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities.

Furthermore, that she knowingly possessed and used the N$3.8 million, while knowing or ought to reasonably have been knowing that it formed part of proceeds of unlawful activities, hence, committed the offence of money laundering.

Elindi revealed that alongside her husband, she has a 50% share in Onyeka Clearing and Forwarding CC.

However, she stated that she has not engaged in Onyeka’s daily operations since she became a shareholder or member in 2007, adding that she used to be employee of the company from 2004 to 2006 before she became a shareholder.

Elindi denied taking part in the daily running of Onyeka, stating that even though she is a shareholder, she is a silent partner and that only her husband does that.

She added that she was not aware of the deal between Enercon and Namcor and only knew that her husband, Malakia Elindi worked for Enercon and only knew the oil company’s name from reading the news.

The matter continues in the Windhoek Magistrate Court. -mukubeiuze@gmail.com

Photo: Heather Erdmann