Allexer Namundjembo
The High Court has granted a preservation order freezing funds in the accounts of two individuals linked to a suspected corruption scheme involving the ||Karas Regional Council.
High Court acting judge Eileen Rakow issued the order after an application by the office of the prosecutor general.
The order bars the account holders from accessing or moving the funds while investigations continue.
It also opens the way for possible forfeiture to the state under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
The case follows allegations raised in Parliament in April by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda.
Amupanda accused August 26 Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, of being a centre for corrupt activities through its subsidiaries, including August 26 Construction.
Amupanda alleged inflated contracts, diversion of funds, and fraudulent documents used to trigger payments to third parties instead of contracted service providers.
August 26 Construction subcontracted Ultimate Traders CC to supply and install furniture.
Nearly N$3.1 million was paid, but investigations later showed that close to N$4 million meant for August 26 Construction was diverted.
The money allegedly moved through Tushiko Investments CC and into personal accounts held by Maria Ndatulumukua Iipumbu and Lusia Ndinomayele Jakob.
Investigators also traced part of the funds to the bank account of a two-year-old child, the daughter of Jakob and acting chief regional officer Ralph Namiluko Sachika.
In November 2024, the acting chief regional officer of the Kharas Regional Council registered a criminal case.
The Commercial Crime Investigation Division and the Namibian Police initiated joint investigations into the suspected diversion of funds.
Amupanda had cited claims of inflated military contracts, tenders issued without proper competition and payments made to relatives and associates of officials within the Ministry of Defence.
He previously told parliament that weak accountability and limited consequences for senior officials had allowed corruption to continue.
In response to the allegations, defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi said the N$4 million linked to the ||Karas project did not appear in August 26 Holdings’ accounts.
Once the funds failed to appear in the company’s records, he said, he opened a criminal case and initiated investigations.
Kapofi also maintained that all government contracts awarded to August 26 Holdings complied with the Public Procurement Act of 2015 and rejected claims of irregular tender awards.
Earlier this year, investigators confirmed that the disputed funds had moved through multiple accounts before landing in personal accounts.
By mid-year, the Ministry of Defence said investigations were continuing to establish responsibility for the missing funds.
