State seizes N$2,3 million linked to tender scam

THE permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture should consider taking action against public servants who were involved in a fraudulent scheme in which unwanted water engines were sold to the ministry at inflated prices.

That advice to the PS is contained in a judgement in which High Court Judge Shafimana Ueitele declared a combined amount of more than N$2,3 million held in four bank accounts in the names of close corporations as forfeited to the state last week. Judge Ueitele also declared a Volkswagen Golf GTI that was bought for a member of three of the close corporations at a price of N$320 000 forfeited to the state in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. He furthermore ordered the close corporation New Africa Dimensions CC and its two members, Gerhard Shilongo and Eliaser Shikage, to pay the prosecutor general’s legal costs in the case on a higher−than−usual scale as between a legal practitioner and own client.