Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa argued in the Windhoek High Court on Monday that the whereabouts of N$61.8 million allegedly paid by Tundavala Invest, a company owned by Fishrot suspect James Hatuikulipi into bank accounts in Dubai, is still unknown.
Imalwa made the argument in court papers during a hearing in which Hatuikulipi and his cousin and co-accused, Tamson Hatuikulipi, are challenging the prosecutor general’s restraint order that led to the subsequent freezing of their assets.
The two men were arrested in November 2019 on allegations of receiving bribes to allocate fishing quotas to Icelandic fishing giant, Samherji.
They are charged alongside former fisheries minister Bernardt Esau, former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala, former Fishcor CEO Mike Nghipunya, Ricardo Gustavo, Nigel van Wyk, Pius Mwatelula, Phillipus Mwapopi and Otneel Shuudifonya.
The Hatuikulipi cousins, represented by South African lawyer Vasantrai Soni, are seeking a high court order granting them access to their frozen assets to pay outstanding and future legal costs.
The application is governed by Section 26 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 29 of 2004, which stresses that the order is to be granted, given that the applicants provide a full disclosure of their monthly income and expenditure statements, as well as properties.
On Monday, Imalwa’s lawyer Mariette Boonzaier told presiding judge Claudia Claasen that James’ alleged non-disclosure of the N$61.8 million that was paid into bank accounts in Dubai, as well as failure to declare pending tax liabilities, weigh against them in that the court, in exercising its discretion in granting their relief, will not have a clear picture of the two men’s financial status.
“The applicant claims that there are no funds in this account, that the PG cannot expect him to prove a negative, and that this matter will arise during the criminal trial, and evidence will be led on this issue then. He further alleges that until such time, it cannot be held against him that he has no knowledge thereof. The whereabouts of the N$62 million that was withdrawn before the closure of the bank account should be disclosed to this court. This too falls short of the requisite disclosure,” Imalwa argued.
According to her, James failed to disclose his tax liability of N$19.4 million between 2014 to 2019 in his personal capacity.
Cambadara Trust, co-owned by the two cousins, also failed to disclose its tax liability of N$33 million for the periods 2014 to 2019, Imalwa added.
Hatuikulipi, however, argues that the tax liability is the subject of counts nine and 10 of the initial criminal charges he faces, adding the issue is to be determined in the criminal court.
“The applicants say they are not guilty, and intend to plead not guilty at the criminal trial. It is submitted that until their guilt has been determined by the criminal court, in terms of s 12(1)(d) of the Constitution, the applicants are presumed to be innocent. The applicants deny such liability. They were accordingly not required to disclose it,” Soni told Judge Claasen.
Imalwa also argued that Hatuikulipi has, to date, failed to disclose his total legal costs.
“Friends and loved ones have been aiding by making contributions towards his legal fees and other legal expenses. There is nothing to gainsay that explanation,” Soni replied.
Judge Claasen has reserved the ruling in the matter.
-Nampa