Tamson “Fitty” Hatuikulipi, one of the key figures in the Fishrot scandal, yesterday and Thursday last week refused to answer questions on emails that mentioned him in the conspiracy to rob Namibia of millions of dollars in the Fishrot scandal.
“I reserve my Constitutional right to remain silent” was his answer each time one of the State advocate Ezekiel Ipinge’s questions stabbed too close.
Ipinge peppered him with correspondence between himself, his cousin James Hatuikulipi, former director of Namgomar Namibia Ricardo Gustavo, former minister of justice Sacky Shanghala and whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson in which his father-in-law former minister of fisheries Bernard Esau was also copied in.
The correspondence concerned the setting up of Namgomar Pesca Namibia, a vessel to get fishing quotas for “governmental objectives” to alleviate the plight of poor Namibians and Angolans.
According to Ipinge, however, this was just a ploy for the Fishrot accused and their Angolan counterparts to get their “greedy paws” on fishing quotas.
Ipinge was questioning Hatuikulipi on his involvement in the Fishrot scandal in his bail application on new facts before High Court Acting Judge David Munsu.
With Hatuikulipi merely denying any involvement in any of the Fishrot dealings, Ipinge read the contents of the emails and other correspondence into the record.
When he drew Fitty’s attention to payments he received from DHC, the law firm of Marén de Klerk, the fugitive lawyer, who is believed to be the “paymaster” for the Fishrot accused and his entity Celax Investments, amounting to more than N$12 million, Fitty made it off as loan repayments from James.
The State is yet to extradite De Klerk from South Africa, as well as Icelandic nationals Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason and Aðalsteinn Helgason.
Hatuikulipi is represented by Florian Beukes, who is assisted by Richard Metcalfe, while Ipinge and Ed Marondedze represent the prosecution, assisted by Philemon Nau. – rrouth@nepc.com.na