Esau reminisces about ‘good old’ S&T days
Former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau has spilled the beans on how ministers cash in on lucrative travel allowances to bankroll their lifestyles, further expounding on how it helped him expand his asset base.
Esau, appearing before judge David Munsu during his second bail application in the Windhoek High Court on Friday, narrated how he earned close to N$10 000 daily in subsistence and travel (S&T) allowance when abroad on official duty.
He said “travelling is lucrative for ministers; that is where we make our money and that is why there is so much public interest”.
According to him, his travel allowance budget per annum was around N$1.5 million.
S&T is said to be used as a cash cow for civil servants, with government spending over N$200 million annually on travel allowances.
“If I exceed that budget, the marine resources fund will be used to cater for my S&T. I used to stay at modest places in order to save money, so for those who were not big spenders, they saved a lot,” he said.
Ministers earn around N$940 000 per year, which means Esau’s S&T budget was almost twice as much as his annual salary.
He made the comments while explaining how he bankrolled his lifestyle with his salary, investments and travel allowances.
He, however, denied making use of Fishrot proceeds to fund his lifestyle.
‘Hoodwinked and blindfolded’
The former minister said he acquired Agribank loans to purchase his farm in the Omaheke Region and a Land Cruiser for farming activities.
Esau flatly denied that he was part of the Fishrot syndicate, maintaining that based on evidence available, his name was used by some of his co-accused.
He further took offence over claims that he did business with some of the accused.
“I feel betrayed. I don't do business with kids, only with my peer group. I have not talked about business with them. Some of them are young and professionals in their own right,” he said.
He also denied knowing his co-accused Ricardo Gustavo. The two lived on the same street in Windhoek’s Hochland Park.
Esau said he was “shocked” to learn that over N$200 million was allegedly looted through Fishrot, adding that it is clear that he "was hoodwinked and blindfolded into signing documents”.
Esau, appearing before judge David Munsu during his second bail application in the Windhoek High Court on Friday, narrated how he earned close to N$10 000 daily in subsistence and travel (S&T) allowance when abroad on official duty.
He said “travelling is lucrative for ministers; that is where we make our money and that is why there is so much public interest”.
According to him, his travel allowance budget per annum was around N$1.5 million.
S&T is said to be used as a cash cow for civil servants, with government spending over N$200 million annually on travel allowances.
“If I exceed that budget, the marine resources fund will be used to cater for my S&T. I used to stay at modest places in order to save money, so for those who were not big spenders, they saved a lot,” he said.
Ministers earn around N$940 000 per year, which means Esau’s S&T budget was almost twice as much as his annual salary.
He made the comments while explaining how he bankrolled his lifestyle with his salary, investments and travel allowances.
He, however, denied making use of Fishrot proceeds to fund his lifestyle.
‘Hoodwinked and blindfolded’
The former minister said he acquired Agribank loans to purchase his farm in the Omaheke Region and a Land Cruiser for farming activities.
Esau flatly denied that he was part of the Fishrot syndicate, maintaining that based on evidence available, his name was used by some of his co-accused.
He further took offence over claims that he did business with some of the accused.
“I feel betrayed. I don't do business with kids, only with my peer group. I have not talked about business with them. Some of them are young and professionals in their own right,” he said.
He also denied knowing his co-accused Ricardo Gustavo. The two lived on the same street in Windhoek’s Hochland Park.
Esau said he was “shocked” to learn that over N$200 million was allegedly looted through Fishrot, adding that it is clear that he "was hoodwinked and blindfolded into signing documents”.
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