Maria Amakali
Prosecutor general Martha Imalwa yesterday filed an application for the court to compel curators David Bruni and Ian McLaren to give detailed answers on the multi-million dollar seized assets of the Fishrot accused that they are managing.
Imalwa’s request comes after the curators applied with the court seeking to be relieved of their duties. The curators claim they do not have the capacity to manage the vast number of properties owned by the accused.
Furthermore, they claim, their work has been made difficult by the Anti-Corruption Commission and other governmental agencies. Thus, they want out and for new curators to take over.
However, before that can be done, Imalwa said they must give an inventory of the accused’s assets, their description, sworn evaluation, and their whereabouts.
They should also explain how they dealt with the properties that were in their possession. Imalwa also wants a detailed account of any income earned by the accused through monthly rentals and their shares in various entities. This includes financial records of Fitty Entertainment, Erongo Clearing, and JTH Trading.
Also, the expenses that have been paid towards the management of the accused’s assets. The prosecution also requires a report on a farm that is managed by Swamma Esau, wife to former fisheries minister Bernhard Esau.
According to Imalwa, without the report, the court cannot carry out its duty. “…any newly appointed curator bonis will not be in a position to take over the obligations and responsibilities of Bruni and McLaren as they have to date failed to report as to what they did or did not do,” said Imalwa.
On Friday, one of the accused, Tamson Hatuikulipi filed papers seeking answers from the curators on the stance of his finances.
According to Hatuikulipi, between November 2019 and March 2020, he made N$5 million from properties sold in Swakopmund, and that money is kept in a trust account at a local law firm.
He claims N$900 000 was transferred from the trust account to an account created by the curators. He allegedly does not know how that money is being utilised.
“The fifth defendant (Esau) and I are totally left in the dark and are now expected to consent to the termination of the appointment of the applicants without knowing what happened to our assets and how they were administered,” said Hatuikulipi. He further said they have not received any report and are left in the dark on how their assets are being managed. Hatuikulipi’s cousin James Hatuikilipi, in August filed papers sharing the same sentiments about the management of his assets’ money by the curators.
-mamakali@nepc.com.na