WINDHOEK – A warrant of arrest was issued against the former director of the National Art Gallery (NAG) Joseph Madisia for his non-appearance in court on Monday on a charge of bashing a colleague.
Madisia stands accused of assault, as well as of trying to defeat and obstruct the course of justice. Madisia was not present in court, because according to his defence lawyer Izak Hohne his client now resides in Mariental. A warrant of arrest was then issued.
Madisia allegedly punched a fellow employee, Ebson Hamauka, who works as a cleaner and messenger at the arts gallery. The incident happened on December 16, 2009. Madisia allegedly also offered to pay Hamauka a bribe of N$2 000 to drop the case. He pleaded not guilty to the charges when his trial started two years ago.
In his earlier testimony Hamauka informed the court that he was on the ground floor when a painter in the gallery asked him to make tea for them. It was then that Madisia chanced upon the scene and asked what he was doing, Hamauka said. Hamauka testified that Madisia started pointing a finger at him. This led to Madisia hitting Hamauka on the chest with the words: “Let’s go outside and m*#er [beat] each other.” Hamauka testified that following the incident, Madisia called him to his office and offered to pay him N$2 000 to withdraw the charges. The request was allegedly made in the presence of a police officer, who advised them that the case could not be dropped since it was already with the court.
Advocate Albert Strydom, Madisia’s legal representative, said it was evident that Hamauka was not truthful. The advocate further pointed out that Madisia was not guilty of the second count, that of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, since he did not offer Hamauka the N$2 000.
By Tunomukwathi Asino