The State will call its witness on new facts when the bail application hearing of Fishrot accused Tamson ‘Fitty’ Hatuikulipi resumes next month.
High Court acting Judge David Munsu yesterday postponed the hearing to 10 October.
Prosecutor Hesekiel Iipinge and defence lawyers Richard Metcalfe and Florian Beukes, on behalf of Hatuikulipi, agreed to the postponement yesterday.
They informed acting Judge Munsu that the witness, expected to be Anti-Corruption Commission investigator Andreas Kanyangela, is currently in the north because of a bereavement in his family and thus not available.
The judge agreed, and remanded the matter to 10 October and to run until 14 October.
Iipinge closed his cross-examination of Hatuikulipi, one of the key figures in the Fishrot scandal, on Wednesday, while Beukes conducted his re-examination yesterday morning.
Iipinge told Hatuikulipi that he is not a suitable candidate for bail, and that he is a flight risk as the State’s case against him is very strong and he would sure to be sentenced to a long prison spell if found guilty.
Hatuikulipi disagreed, saying he does not believe the State has a strong case, and that he would welcome the opportunity to clear his name during the trial.
He further said he cannot afford to become a fugitive as all his assets are frozen. In any event, he does not wish to be separated from his family.
He assured the court he would stand his trial if released on bail.
Hatuikulipi, together with his cousin James Hatuikulipi, the former Fishcor board chairperson; his father-in-law and former minister of fisheries Bernhard Esau; Ricardo Gustavo (on bail); former justice minister Sackey Shanghala; former Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya; Pius Mwatelulo; Otneel Shuudifonya; Phillipus Mwapopi; and Nigel van Wyk, are facing more than 40 counts comprising racketeering, contravening the Anti-Corruption Act, conspiracy, corruptly using an office to receive gratification, fraud, theft and money-laundering, as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
It is alleged by the State that they corruptly received payments of around N$103 million to give a competitive advantage to Icelandic fishing company Samherji in securing access to horse mackerel quotas in Namibia.
The State alleges that all the accused acted with a common purpose. Also on the list of people added to the charges is lawyer Marén de Klerk.
The State is yet to extradite De Klerk from South Africa, as well as Icelandic nationals Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason and Aðalsteinn Helgason.