Allexer Namundjembo
National Democratic Party (NDP) leader and member of parliament Martin Lukato has tabled a motion in the National Assembly which calls on the government to track and arrest all suspects linked to the fishrot corruption case.
Lukato said some individuals connected to the case are still at large and have not appeared in court.
“All suspects should be traced, apprehended and interrogated, and when the suspects are proven guilty for the missing resources of Namibia, they should face the law for justice to be served,” he said.
He also called for international cooperation to locate suspects who may have left the country.
“This trace should ensure all suspects guilty of the Fishrot case are brought to book without further delay,” he said.
The fishrot case dates back to November 2019.
It followed the release of the fishrot files, which exposed an alleged bribery scheme linked to Icelandic company Samherji and Namibian officials.
The documents showed that millions of dollars were allegedly paid in exchange for fishing quotas.
The scandal led to the arrest of several senior figures.
Former ministers Bernhardt Esau and Sacky Shanghala are among the accused.
They face charges including corruption, fraud and money laundering.
Other accused include James Hatuikulipi, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Ricardo Gustavo and Pius Mwatelulo.
Since their arrest in 2019, the accused have appeared in court several times.
Proceedings have focused on bail applications and pre-trial issues.
Courts have denied bail to several accused, citing the seriousness of the charges and risks to the investigation.
The case has faced delays linked to legal challenges and disputes over evidence.
Despite this, the courts have said the matter must proceed.
The trial is expected to start this year.
Whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson is expected to give key evidence on how the scheme worked.
Lawyer Maren de Klerk is also expected to testify on agreements linked to the case.
Lukato said all those involved must be held accountable as the country moves toward trial.
