WINDHOEK – The trial of Cameroonian-born businessman Antoine ‘Tony’ Mbok, 38, and his co-accused Daniel David Nghiwilepo, 40, has been set for March 16, 2015.
This came to light after Nghiwilepo applied for the postponement to enlist the services of Advocate Louis Botes.
Earlier reports suggested Nghiwilepo felt the severity of the charges necessitated the legal services of Botes’ calibre.
He lodged an application before Judge Nate Ndauendapo for a postponement as Botes was not available for the period the trial was set down for initially, which was May 05 to 08.
Botes will only be available next year, the judge was told, due to a full schedule. Judge Naomi Shivute yesterday gave Mbok and Nghiwilepo the new dates on behalf of Judge Ndauendapo.
Nghiwilepo is currently represented by Boris ‘The Mouth’ Isaacks. Mbok, his corporation MFinance and Namibian national Nghiwilepo face charges of fraud and corruption involving N$3.9 million.
MFinance (Pty) Limited is a duly registered corporate body, registered in accordance with Namibian laws with Mbok as its sole owner and director.
Mbok is the first and second accused in his capacity as the director of Mfinance, and Nghiwilepo is the third accused.
They tendered not guilty pleas to the 10 charges of fraud and corruption at a plea hearing last year.
A summary of substantial facts contained in the charge-sheet have it that the two men in cahoots with a registry clerk at the Ministry of Finance, 39-year-old Veronika Kituna Thomas, allegedly defrauded several Namibian businesses and government agencies of up to N$3.9 million in valued-added tax (VAT) and returns for import VAT.
Thomas already pleaded guilty to five counts of corruptly using her office at the Ministry of Finance and her position for self-gratification at the start of the trial before High Court Judge Alfred Siboleka on February, 10, 2012 and sentenced to an effective eight years’ imprisonment.
After Thomas’ guilty plea her trial was separated from that of Mbok, his company MFinance and Nghiwilepo.
The State alleges that between January, 25, 2010 and February, 18, 2010, five cheques destined for the account of the Ministry of Finance were intercepted and deposited into Mbok’s company’s account.
The affected companies and entities in the alleged fraud comprise GS Fainsinger and Associates in the amount of N$121 212.42 for VAT, the Ministry of Health and Social Services/ Global Fund in the amount of N$228 494.61 for employees’ tax.
Another cheque for employees’ tax for the amount of N$62 905.13 allegedly made its way into the coffers of MFinance, this time from Edu-Loan (now Letshego Financial Services Namibia) instead of the Ministry of Finance.
Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino was allegedly the fourth victim when a cheque for the amount of N$202 530.08 for employees’ tax was paid into the account of MFinance at Standard Bank Namibia, account no. 241611377 according to the indictment.
Another alleged victim of the alleged fraud was Afrisam Cement, recently in the news for the massive N$71 million fraud allegedly committed by Esmerelda Madjiedt, for the amount of N$3 329 489.40 meant as payment for VAT.
By Roland Routh