Iuze Mukube
Trial dates in relation to the Fishrot corruption scandal will be determined next Tuesday, a High Court judge announced.
The scheduling is for the purpose of paving the way for the main trial to finally proceed.
High Court Judge Claudia Claasen announced the postponement to a date when the presiding judge, Moses Chinhengo, will be available.
The fishing quota corruption case has been before court for almost five years since 2019, which had prompted Chinhengo last year to give directives for the main trial to begin uninterrupted this year.
Chiefly, one reason used by the accused which delayed the plea process was lack of legal representation, citing doing so without legal aid is unconstitutional and unaligned to the right of a fair trial.
This was particularly employed by the alleged mastermind behind the Fishrot scandal, former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, and his co-accused James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo.
But Chinhengo has been adamant that the case has been delayed for far too long and prompted the finality of plea- taking, to make way for the main trial to begin this year.
This year, the case will move on without any delays after the accused entered a not guilty plea to all 42 counts against them last year.
Shanghala and his co-accused face charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and other offences linked to the Fishrot scandal.
The other accused in the matter are Ricardo Gustavo, Bernhardt Esau, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Mike Nghipunya, Nigel van Wyk, Otneel Shuudifonya and Phillipus Mwapopi.
The charges stem from allegations that the accused helped the Icelandic fishing company, Samherji, gain access to Namibian fishing quotas through corrupt means.
The accused remain in custody at the Windhoek Correctional Facility.