WALVIS BAY – The Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) has been ordered to pay more than N$2.4 million to its former chief executive, Augustinus Katiti.
This ruling was made by High Court judge Hannelie Prinsloo on Friday, following a lengthy legal battle between Katiti and the state-owned institution.
“The plaintiff’s claim is granted in the payment of N$2.4 million, with interest on the aforementioned amount at the prescribed rate of 20% per annum a tempora morae from 31 August 2018 to the date of final payment thereof,” she stated in her ruling.
Katiti, who served as the chief executive officer of the NIP from April 2014 until his dismissal in August 2018, sued the institution after it failed to honour a clause stipulated in his employment contract.
The former CEO initially sued the parastatal for N$3,8 million, which was supposed to be paid to restrict him from conducting business similar to that of the NIP for two years from termination.
Katiti’s court documents stated that upon the termination of his contract, the NIP was obligated to pay him a lump sum equivalent to his total
guaranteed pay for each year of a two-year restraint clause in his employment agreement.
However, the NIP failed to pay up, and instead instituted a counter-claim of over N$18 million against Katiti.
“The defendant’s counter-claim is dismissed, and the defendant is liable for the costs of the plaintiff; such costs to include the costs of one instructing and one instructed counsel.