Justicia Shipena
Some of the funds misappropriated in the Namcor corruption and bribery case were used to finance operations of a company owned by the son of one of the Elindi brothers.
This was revealed in court as the state laid out charges against Leo Nandago Stefanus, one of the accused in the high-profile money laundering and corruption case involving millions of dollars.
The state alleges that the funds were used to support the activities of Erongo Petroleum CC and Quality Supplies CC.
Erongo Petroleum is owned by Austin Elindi, son of businessman Peter Elindi, who has also been arrested in the matter.
Peter and his brother, Malakia Elindi, are directors of Enercon Namibia, a company listed in the case. Enercon supplied fuel to the Ministry of Defence.
Austin has not been arrested in the matter.
State prosecutor Menencia Hinda told the court that between 1 August 2022 and 4 May 2023, Stefanus wrongfully and unlawfully received fuel worth N$228 million in Windhoek.
She said the fuel was acquired through a pattern of racketeering activity and that Stefanus knew or ought to have known it was part of the proceeds of unlawful conduct.
“The accused used the said N$228 million in the establishment of the operation or activities of Erongo Petroleum CC and Quality Supplies CC,” said Hinda.
Namcor had entered into fuel supply agreements and supplementary credit facility agreements with the two companies.
Agreements were signed on 10 September 2020 and 20 August 2020 with Erongo and on 16 March 2022 and 5 April 2022 with Enercon. Namcor supplied diesel 50PPM, ULP95, and lubricants to Erongo.
On 26 July 2022, Stefanus allegedly laundered N$350,000 by transferring the money from Erongo Petroleum CC’s bank account to Quality Meat Supplies CC.
It was then moved to Cornelius Petrus Willemse, who was Namcor’s supply and logistics manager at the time.
Hinda said Stefanus knew or ought to have known the money was part of the proceeds of unlawful activities.
Stefanus is also charged under the anti-corruption act for corruptly giving gratification.
On 17 December 2022, he allegedly paid N$500,000 into the account of Quality Meat Supplies, which was transferred the same day to Panduleni Farming CC for the benefit of Jennifer Hamukwaya, then Namcor’s executive of finance and administration.
She has also been arrested in the matter.
Hinda told the court that Hamukwaya, in her executive capacity, approved fuel supplies worth N$22 million to Erongo Petroleum CC, a company in which Stefanus is the sole shareholder.
Stefanus is further charged with racketeering under the prevention of organised crime act for his involvement in the chain of unlawful fuel transactions and financial transfers.
He is one of 14 accused in the case. The nine individuals named include Peter and Malakia Elindi, former Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga, Cornelius Willemse, Jennifer Hamukwaya, her husband Panduleni Hamukwaya, Olivia Grace Dunaiski, and Lydia Elindi, wife of Malakia.
The companies named in the matter are Onyeka Clearing and Forwarding CC, Nyambali Medical Centre CC, Panduleni Farming CC, and Parkwood Petroleum Logistics CC.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) confirmed that the case followed investigations into corrupt practices and other offences involving Namcor and its subsidiary, Namcor Trading & Distribution (Pty) Ltd.
ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata said between August 2022 and May 2023, Erongo Petroleum CC and Enercon Namibia (Pty) Ltd acquired petroleum products worth approximately N$274.4 million from Namcor Trading, far exceeding their approved credit limits.
She said these transactions allegedly bypassed internal controls and were not properly authorised.
Nghituwamata added that in July 2022, Namcor unlawfully attempted to acquire Enercon Namibia’s service station assets at nine Namibian military bases without board approval.
The assets, valued at N$53.2 million, were part of a 15-year agreement signed in 2016 between Enercon and the ministry of defence and Veterans Affairs.
Despite the legal obstacle, Namcor Trading paid N$53.2 million, resulting in a direct financial loss as the transfer of assets never occurred.
The nine accused are expected to appear before Magistrate Olga Muharukua at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today for their formal bail application.
