Windhoek
Two Chinese nationals caught red-handed trying to bribe two senior officials of the Bank of Namibia to release N$1.7 million that was blocked by the bank plan to plead guilty to a charge of corruption in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
This was revealed by the legal representative of Zhaung Caizhen and Wang Ke when they made a first appearance before Magistrate Justine Asino last week.
Khadila Amoomo, who is representing the two men on private instruction told Asino he held instructions to plead guilty to the charge when the case resumes on September 19.
Both accused were released on bail of N$8 000 each on condition they do not contact State witnesses, that they hand in their travel documents and not apply for new ones. They may also not leave the district of Windhoek without prior permission from the investigating officer. Prosecutor Rowan van Wyk did not object to the bail, subject to the conditions being imposed.
It was also established during the brief court appearance that both men are in Namibia on work visas. According to a statement issued by Bank of Namibia Governor Ipumbu Shimi, the two Chinese nationals tried to transfer the N$1.7 million to China on the same day they banked the money at a local commercial bank.
“The Bank of Namibia (BoN) became suspicious of the transaction and blocked the funds in terms of the exchange control regulations” Ipumbu explained in the statement. He further said that when the two Chinese national realised the bank would not release the funds after discussions were held, they decided to offer two senior officers of the Bank of Namibia N$10 000 each in order for their bank account to be unblocked and the N$1.7 million sent to China.
The ACC was, however, alerted to the intended bribe and a sting operation was set up whereby Caizhen and Ke were arrested for contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act. At present it is not clear what will happen to the funds in question. According to Bank of Namibia spokesperson Hilaria Graig, the bank cannot say anything, as the incident is still under investigation. “As soon as the case is finished we might be able to give answers, but not while the matter is still sub judicae,” she said when asked about the fate of the N$1.7 million in question.