By Tunomukwathi Asino
WINDHOEK – A former private secretary to the Director of Extension and Engineering Services accused of embezzling N$121 749 from government, recently had her charges withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
The suspect, Joyce Zussino (29), was due to plead to the charges but instead Prosecutor Henry Muhongo informed Magistrate John Sindano he received instructions from the Prosecutor General to withdraw the pending court matter.
She stood accused of having defrauded the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry of N$121 749.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) agents nabbed Zussino on March 5 last year and she made her routine first court appearance on the same day. The matter was remanded numerous times. Muhongo added that the withdrawal had been communicated with Zussino’s defence lawyer, Sisa Namandje.
A statement released by the ACC after her arrest said Zussino had a company called Tuahafa-Zussino Creations that provided services to the ministry.
She had a role in obtaining quotations from the ministry to which her company also submitted quotations, despite the fact that she was privy to insider information and pricing of the other suppliers. It was alleged she did not have the required permission to perform external remunerative work.
She faced nine counts of contravening Section 36 of the Anti-Corruption Act, Act No. 8 of 2003 as per indictment.
Section 36 of the ACC Act states, “A public officer commits an offence who knowingly and corruptly, and otherwise than as a member of a registered joint stock company consisting of more than 20 persons, acquires or holds, directly or indirectly, a private interest in any contract, agreement or investment emanating from or which is made on account of the public body.”
She was out on bail of N$20 000 and will get her bail back.