Walvis Bay
The suspended CEO of the Omaruru Town Council Edward Paul Ganaseb was released on bail of N$50 000 yesterday morning.
Ganaseb, who appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court on fraud and corruption charges, is being investigated by the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) after it came to light he allegedly misused his power and approved a claim amounting to N$962 000 in 2012. Ganaseb faces charges ranging from corruptly using his position for gratification to fraud.
Senior investigating officer of the ACC in the Erongo Region, Walter Kurz, yesterday confirmed that Ganaseb handed himself over to the ACC on Monday evening around 19h00 after word got out that he needed to answer to an ACC investigation.
According to Kurz, Ganaseb was released on condition that he does not contact any of the 23 witnesses that are key to the case. “He also had to hand in all his travel documents,” Kurz said. Information availed to New Era indicate that Ganaseb approved a claim by a company identified as RE-birth Investment cc.
The company was awarded a tender in 2012 for the tarring of roads in Omaruru.
The tender is said to be worth about N$6 million. But despite the huge payout no work was allegedly done by the company.
Another suspect Ruddy Hinanifa who is also linked to the case, as well as to RE-birth Investment, was arrested last week and already appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court.
Hinanifa was apparently the one who in December 2012 lodged the claim while the Omaruru councillors were on recess, which resulted in Ganaseb approving the claim in his capacity as CEO.
It is alleged Hinanifa or Ganaseb did not follow standard procedures and did not inform the consultant of the project of his claim or verify the claim with the consultant.
This is the second time the suspended CEO is facing fraud charges. He was arrested in December last year for allegedly stealing cattle valued at N$6 000 from a farmer in the Okombahe communal area in Erongo.
Ganaseb also faced fraud charges in connection with the case after he allegedly forged a transport permit. The case is ongoing in the Omaruru court.