Avid / SSC corruption judgment accepted by analysts

Leading analysts in Namibia's political spectrum and civil society welcomed the recent judgment of Judge Christie Liebenberg in the Avid-Social Security Commission corruption case that sent Nico Josea, a politician , at the gallows for 17 years.

The judgment reads in history as the first to be established on a saga of high-profile corruption involving powerful political appointments involving millions of dollars.

Analysts who spoke to the villagers said that he was further reaffirming the independence of the judiciary in the country and absolved the ruling Swapo party of the accusations that it protects "sacred cows" in that country. concerning investigations and prosecutions.

Carola Engelbrecht, Director of Citizens for a Responsible and Transparent Society, said the decision is an example for offenders with regard to corruption.

"We hope that this will send a message and that people will be afraid to be involved in the corruption, I hope." The judge also said that those who had been fined had suffered as much at the Following this trial, "she said.

Political analyst Hoze Riruako said that the case goes far enough to show that the principle of checks and balances is effective and alive in the world.

"This case had nothing to do with Swapo, or the government, it was individuals, which shows that the courts are able to do their job without interference. That is what we call the separation of powers, which means that the president can not tell the courts what to do and that the courts can not tell him what to do with regard to their duties ", he said. Ndumba Kamwanyah, a university and political commentator at the University of Namibia, said for the first time in the Namibian judicial system that at least some people have been convicted of corruption problems

. the public cried to see that justice has been done to ensure that the people involved are held accountable for their actions. So, in a way, I think it sends a good message to other people that the law has a long hand, "he said.

However, Kamwanyah pointed out that since the judge had to make his decision on the basis of available evidence and technical information, he was indulgent to Ralph Blaauw and his wife Sharon, former Deputy Minister Paulus Kapia and Inez / Gases

"He should have looked at the amount that disappeared, but he should have also looked at the roles they played as politicians. We know that Nico was severely punished because he was directly involved in the deal, but we should not undermine the role played by the two politicians in influencing the deal, he said.

In the meantime, the Avid / SSC case stems from an amount of N $ 30 million by SSC which was entrusted to an inexperienced company (Avid) who was to manage the investments.

However, investments were diverted into the private pockets of Lazarus Kandara who died in court on the way to dump more beans with a South African national Allan Rosenberg and Josea.

The rest of the Avid employees, although they did not benefit from the funds, were found guilty of failing to protect the funds, misrepresenting the managers of the company. SSC that Kandara did not belong to it.

Meanwhile, Josée can appeal her judgment to the Supreme Court but addressing the villager a few minutes before her trial, he says, "Everything is in the hands of God now."

Judgment Day He painted contrasting images in the crowded audience room and sighed with relief as Josea was taken away to serve his sentence.

The case had detrimental effects on his political career that destroyed his son. For the Blaauws, the case threatened to tear their family apart as they had children who depended on them but who also suffered from stigma because of the difficult situation of their parents. aggravated by wild media coverage.