Iuze Mukube
A former police officer was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery and defeating the course of justice.
Sackaria Kuutondokwa Kokule (52) appeared in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court, where he was sentenced on Monday.
Two years of his jail sentence were suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within five years.
Despite Kokule being a first-time offender, Magistrate Kandiwapa Nembia cited the need for accountability when she handed down the custodial sentence.
Kokule was dismissed from the Namibian Police Force following his arrest and conviction for accepting bribes to tamper with evidence in an ongoing case.
He was found guilty of attempting to bribe an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officer to have two bank cards belonging to two men implicated in the Fishrot case, Pius Mwatelulo and James Hatuikulipi, taken away.
“Corruption is a serious crime for many reasons… it is difficult to detect; it erodes the principles of good governance; lowers the moral tone of a nation; and eats away at the very fabric of good society, to name a few,” said Nembia.
The magistrate stated that the sentence passed on Kokule should serve as a deterrent to other public officials who might be tempted to betray public trust.
The court wants to stem the flow of corruption by expressing in clear and unequivocal language that those who participate in corrupt practices would be dealt with sternly to protect the interests of society, she said.
Additionally, the magistrate equated corruption to cancer to stress the impact it has, on society – a danger that will destroy a healthy culture and, erode honesty while crippling industry.
“The aggravating factor in this matter is that the accused was a police officer at the time he undertook to steal exhibits in the Fishrot case, a matter that in itself is a very serious offence,” said Nembia.
She added that Kokule’s duty was to protect victims of crime, and he was placed in a position of trust, which enabled him to have access to case dockets where a destroyed exhibit could result in the obstruction of justice, and/or cause inordinate delays in finalising criminal cases.
The defence counsel, Jermaine Muchali, pleaded for leniency, and for Kokule to be sentenced to a fine, highlighting the strain on his family, and his lack of prior convictions.
Muchali proposed a fine of N$5 000 or a six-month imprisonment term on account that the accused has been punished by being kept in custody for five years.
He added that the detention in custody deprived the accused of the basic needs of intimacy, not seeing his lastborn and losing his employment, thus pleaded with the court to exercise due discretion and leniency.
On the other hand, state prosecutor Ian Malumani highlighted various cases that dealt with corruption by police officers, and none of the cases showed leniency, as corruption by police officers is treated seriously, and no fine was imposed.
Muchali told New Era on Tuesday that his client intends to appeal against the sentence.