Another delay in B1 City corruption trial
A trial in which three businesspeople are accused of fraud and corruption in connection with the B1 City property development project has been postponed to next year.
This trial is now set to begin before High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg on 3 June 2019 and run until 19 July 2019.
State advocate Ezekiel Iipinge and the accused's lawyers - Slysken Makando, Kadhila Amoomo and Silas Kishi Shakumu – agreed on the trial date on Wednesday.
The three accused persons in the matter are the former chief executive officer of the Roads Contractor Company (RCC), Kelly Nghixulifwa (58), Hafeni Nghinamwaami (50), and Anna Ndoroma (49).
The trail date was finalised on Wednesday after the High Court on 17 October 2018 dismissed an application by Nghixulifwa. He wanted the court to issue an order to compel the State to provide him with further particulars and explain in full detail that the RCC was indeed a public body at the time of the alleged fraud and corruption offences.
The three face eight main charges including corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering.
These charges stem from the RCC's involvement in the B1 City property development project opposite the Katutura State Hospital in 2005 and 2006.
The RCC started this joint venture with /Ae //Gams Engineering.
It is alleged that Nghixulifwa was a shareholder in /Ae //Gams Engineering and Cradle Investments, but apparently concealed his stake in the two companies by having his shares held in Ndoroma's name.
While still CEO, Nghixulifwa allegedly claimed payment from the parastatal and another construction company for the role Cradle Investments supposedly played in the construction of the RCC head office.
The RCC board of directors was allegedly also kept in the dark about Nghixulifwa's involvement in the companies.
All three are free on bail of N$60 000 each, and their bail was extended until their next court appearance.
Charges were withdrawn against a fourth suspect, David Imbili.
NAMPA
This trial is now set to begin before High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg on 3 June 2019 and run until 19 July 2019.
State advocate Ezekiel Iipinge and the accused's lawyers - Slysken Makando, Kadhila Amoomo and Silas Kishi Shakumu – agreed on the trial date on Wednesday.
The three accused persons in the matter are the former chief executive officer of the Roads Contractor Company (RCC), Kelly Nghixulifwa (58), Hafeni Nghinamwaami (50), and Anna Ndoroma (49).
The trail date was finalised on Wednesday after the High Court on 17 October 2018 dismissed an application by Nghixulifwa. He wanted the court to issue an order to compel the State to provide him with further particulars and explain in full detail that the RCC was indeed a public body at the time of the alleged fraud and corruption offences.
The three face eight main charges including corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering.
These charges stem from the RCC's involvement in the B1 City property development project opposite the Katutura State Hospital in 2005 and 2006.
The RCC started this joint venture with /Ae //Gams Engineering.
It is alleged that Nghixulifwa was a shareholder in /Ae //Gams Engineering and Cradle Investments, but apparently concealed his stake in the two companies by having his shares held in Ndoroma's name.
While still CEO, Nghixulifwa allegedly claimed payment from the parastatal and another construction company for the role Cradle Investments supposedly played in the construction of the RCC head office.
The RCC board of directors was allegedly also kept in the dark about Nghixulifwa's involvement in the companies.
All three are free on bail of N$60 000 each, and their bail was extended until their next court appearance.
Charges were withdrawn against a fourth suspect, David Imbili.
NAMPA
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