Iuze Mukube

Family ties, friendships, acquaintances and what has been suggested as a possible conspiratorial relationship were laid bare by an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officer yesterday in the Namcor-rot scandal.

ACC chief investigating officer Oberty Inambao, who stood in the witness dock yesterday, told the court that there is evidence linking Cedric Willemse to the controversial fuel and asset purchase agreement.

Former Namcor employee Willemse stands accused of fraud, theft by false pretenses, corruption, money laundering and other charges in relation to allegedly defrauding the oil parastatal of millions.

Inambao said that based on the evidence collected from emails dated 6 and 7 July 2022, before an internal memorandum was ever drafted, Olivia Dunaiski received instructions and information from Willemse for the drafting of the memo.

He said this evidence proves that Willemse was involved in the planning of the asset purchase agreement, disputing Willemse’s testimony of non-involvement.

He added that evidence portrays that, on the same day that the agreement between Enercon and Namcor was signed, Willemse received N$150 000 in his personal account.

Additionally, the officer testified that from the N$18 million that went into the second account of Enercon from Namcor on 19 July 2022, funds were used as part of unlawful proceeds.

When this money was traced, it was found that N$9 million was transferred out of Enercon to Eco Trading, an entity which was 100% at the time owned by fugitive Victor Simaneka Malima.

He noted that from the N$9 million, N$1.4 million was paid into the account of Quality Meat Supplies, where Malima is a beneficial owner.

The money was further traced from Quality Meat Supplies to the personal account of Willemse, amounting to N$960 000.

This same account received N$150 000 on 15 July 2022.

A further look traced N$150 000 paid to Panduleni Farming, Panduleni Hamukwaya’s business.

The officer added that, at the time he received the money, Willemse was already employed permanently by Namcor as logistics and supply manager.

Inambao revealed that N$1.4 million was also paid to Parkwood, a CC owned by Willemse.

This money was traced to have been received from Eco Trading.

Inambao said that these funds were direct proceeds of the money paid by Namcor.

That evidence showed that Willemse was instrumental in the whole agreement.

He added that the financial statement of the accused reveals that between 21 July and November 2022, Willemse received N$1.4 million from Erongo Petroleum.

Briefly, the officer pointed out that Willemse received N$500 000, N$550 000, N$350 000 and N$50 000 in that period.

At the time, Erongo Petroleum was still in business with Namcor.

Inambao stated that Enercon was owned by Peter and Malakia Elindi.

In addition, Erongo Petroleum was owned by Leo Nandago, with the beneficial owner being Austin Elindi, Peter’s son.

Eco Trading was owned by Malima and Quality Meat Supplies by Hileni Iitana.

Although a relationship has not been established, Inambao said the beneficial owner was also Malima.

Oshali Fuel is 100% owned by Malima.

The name of the current owner is still under investigation.

Eco Fuels was owned by Johanna Mundjeko and Martha Aatindi, Malima’s relatives.

“So, in the end, your worship, these entities are all related, or rather, the owners of the entities are basically from one family,” Inambao said.

Additionally, he stated that evidence shows that Willemse, between 2 November and 18 December 2022, received almost N$1.2 million in cash deposits from Connie van Wyk.

Van Wyk is one of the accused in the matter and was once the chief acting executive officer of Enercon.

Inambao pointed out that Van Wyk was withdrawing money from the business account and depositing it into Willemse’s account.

Inambao told the court that Willemse was also involved in the acquisition of assets from Enercon, as revealed in his financial statements.

He added that investigations established from Willemse’s financial accounts that he owes over N$20 million in tax to the Namibia Revenue Agency.

In addition, from 2018 to 2023, Willemse declared less than N$2 million when, in fact, his finances showed otherwise.

On the credit limit threshold, Inambao stated that he is not aware of any anomaly practised by Namcor, as testified by Willemse.

He said the oil company has a credit policy guiding the credit committee on extension of credit limits. -mukubeiuze@gmail.com