Man gets jail for bribery attempt
One of the three men accused of working together to attempt to bribe an AntiCorruption Commission (ACC) investigator to steal evidence in the Fishrot case, was sentenced to serve nine months’ imprisonment yesterday by the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Jason Iyambo (35) was initially sentenced to 18 months in prison, but nine months were suspended for a period of five years on condition he is not convicted on a charge of attempting to defeat the course of justice during the period of suspension.
On 10 November, Iyambo pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to defeat the course of justice and was consequently convicted on that admission.
The court, however, discharged him on the count of corruptly giving gratification as an inducement due to lack of evidence.
Handing down judgement, magistrate Ivan Gawanab said the court took into account that Iyambo did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty.
Furthermore, he showed remorse for his actions.
“The court will acknowledge the fact that the accused pleaded guilty as a mitigation factor. The remorse expressed by the accused is similarly accepted by this court, as it was done under oath and was subjected to cross-examination,” said Gawanab.
Iyambo was scheduled to go on trial on 17 May 2021 alongside former Investec Asset Management Namibia managing director James Hatuikulipi and police reservist
Sakaria Kuutondokwa Kokule.
The latter two are expected to be tried on charges of corruptly giving gratification as an inducement, bribery or alternatively improperly influencing an authorised officer and defeating or obstructing the
course of justice.
The charges that Hatuikulipi and his co-accused are facing derive from them allegedly attempting to tamper with ongoing investigations into the N$130 million bribery case.
It is alleged that Iyambo and Kokule worked in cahoots to attain two Investec banking cards issued to Hatuikulipi, who is in police custody.
The two men also wanted one Bank Windhoek card for Omvindi Investment CC issued out to Fishrot accused Pius Mwatelulo.
In addition, the men required another Bank Windhoek card issued to Mwatelulo for Otuafika Logistics and a document titled ‘Total Allocation’ from the ACC.
The two men allegedly promised the investigating officer N$250 000 for the bank cards and documents.
However, the investigating officer went to his superiors at the ACC and reported the bribery attempt.
The incident allegedly took place on 20 January this year.
– mamakali@nepc.com.na