Renowned criminal lawyer Sisa Namandje has withdrawn as the legal representative of forex trader-turned-activist Michael Amushelelo in his fight against the prosecutor general’s decision to attach his properties.
In a letter of withdrawal seen by New Era, Namandje gave notice of his withdrawal in terms of Rule 44(6) of the High Court rules.
Amushelelo is fighting against an application by the PG to attach his possessions as proceeds of an organised crime in which he was represented by Namandje.
Amushelelo is currently being held in a Windhoek prison over his involvement in a demonstration against unemployment. He was arrested on Independence Day (21 March 2023).
Recently, High Court Judge Thomas Masuku, who is presiding over the matter, condoned the late filing of 57 people, who claim to have invested their money with self-proclaimed foreign exchange trader-turned-politician under the red berets of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters.
The 57 members of the public will now form part of the ongoing proceedings in which the prosecutor general is seeking a preservation order for various assets, bank accounts and properties belonging to Amushelelo and a vehicle belonging to Taimi Amushelelo.
In the preservation application, the prosecution is stating there are reasonable grounds that the properties are proceeds of unlawful activities, such as fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and racketeering.
The prosecution has since charged Amushelelo and co-accused Gregory Cloete, four close corporations, a company and a trust controlled by Amushelelo.
All in all, Amushelelo faces 365 counts, while his right-hand man, Cloete is charged with 360 of the counts.
These charges range from fraud, alternatively theft by false pretences, conducting banking business without authorisation and conducting a Ponzi scheme, tax evasion, tax fraud, failure to pay tax, money laundering and racketeering.